tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24679247587475759002018-03-07T06:03:52.478+09:00Forward- to the WEST!Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-50770793251848815672016-04-02T15:17:00.000+09:002016-04-08T12:46:16.649+09:00The Red October Cement Works Pt. 1<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bB9LUZOzRww/UZgojhlcIGI/AAAAAAAAFkc/IYZnN2MT6jI/s1600/Factory_9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bB9LUZOzRww/UZgojhlcIGI/AAAAAAAAFkc/IYZnN2MT6jI/s400/Factory_9.jpg" width="400" /></a></span>&nbsp;</span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Closely following on from my last post, here's another one featuring a terrain project on which I've been working, on-and-off, for well over a few years now.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Anyone who plays Blitzkrieg Commander knows there are times when you need to roll a <b>lot</b> of dice- especially when you start fielding Panthers, T-34/85's, and heavy guns!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">After a few games with us rolling the dice directly on the table, more often than not the dice would start bouncing off one another and start flying around.&nbsp; Spreading out like so many shell fragments, they would end up careening into model vehicles, terrain and miniatures alike.&nbsp; After a few scary incidents with fragile plastic parts, I long ago decided that it would probably be a good idea if we were to acquire ourselves a dice tower.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I know that dice towers can be bought commercially, and that even making one from scratch wouldn't take all that much effort.&nbsp; But I wanted something unique that would be integral to the tabletop, and thought about how I could incorporate a dice tower into some kind of terrain feature or building.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a lot of Eastern Front battles featured fights for and around factories (think Stalingrad or the grain tower at Ponyri), I thought that the classic, boxy dice tower shape would lend itself well to being incorporated into some kind of industrial architecture. so the idea for constructing the <b>Red October Cement Factory</b> (Красный Октябрь Цементный завод) came into being.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">A quick search of the internet saw me come across this <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Making-a-Formboard-Dice-Tower/">very useful site</a> which featured plans for a reasonably sized, easy to build tower.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I printed out the .pdf files, and stuck them to the back of some dense foam board- the kind that had and adhesive surface on one side.&nbsp; All I had to do was peel off the packing paper and carefully place the pages on the board as a template.&nbsp; Then it was just a case of cutting out the pieces, and then gluing them together with white glue and lots of dressmakers pins! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TmCBEilI0JI/UYdUg2xLdDI/AAAAAAAAFd0/CU-XLODoz3A/s1600/Factory_basic+tower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TmCBEilI0JI/UYdUg2xLdDI/AAAAAAAAFd0/CU-XLODoz3A/s400/Factory_basic+tower.jpg" width="293" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">At this point one of the sides hadn't been glued on, as first the interior needed to be painted.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">With the dice tower coming along nicely,&nbsp; I sought out some old foam offcuts (left over from my <a href="http://serreslesrangs.blogspot.jp/2013/03/le-monastere-de-zinderneuf.html">monastery project)</a>,&nbsp; a couple of junk food containers courtesy of Nabisco, and another classic old Airfix kit I was happily willing to kit-bash.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k3D1nrN6Dyc/UYdIphoW1TI/AAAAAAAAFdk/2LtzI3FlpTA/s1600/Factory_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k3D1nrN6Dyc/UYdIphoW1TI/AAAAAAAAFdk/2LtzI3FlpTA/s400/Factory_2.jpg" width="335" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">After putting the basic building together from the control tower kit, experimenting with the layout on my desk gave me the basic idea for something that would have a (relatively) compact footprint for the gaming table on no more than a 30cm x 30cm base.&nbsp; Something that would be manageable to carry around, yet remain imposing.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fcVJma4Mu8o/UY7q5kMgpKI/AAAAAAAAFiw/2pJLqwQ34pQ/s1600/Factory_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fcVJma4Mu8o/UY7q5kMgpKI/AAAAAAAAFiw/2pJLqwQ34pQ/s400/Factory_1.jpg" width="353" /></a></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uL0FkTzVwIk/UY7qfhsWGKI/AAAAAAAAFig/hDjY12bRS6Y/s1600/Factory_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uL0FkTzVwIk/UY7qfhsWGKI/AAAAAAAAFig/hDjY12bRS6Y/s400/Factory_3.jpg" width="350" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Next stage was to paint the interior of the dice tower and slap on the sides.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Iqb47H6trVQ/UZgohFopnfI/AAAAAAAAFj0/P1mDj24qLIc/s1600/Factory_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Iqb47H6trVQ/UZgohFopnfI/AAAAAAAAFj0/P1mDj24qLIc/s400/Factory_4.jpg" width="328" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DkjzOFMmmYY/UZgoha90A-I/AAAAAAAAFj4/RYDblvxpbGk/s1600/Factory_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DkjzOFMmmYY/UZgoha90A-I/AAAAAAAAFj4/RYDblvxpbGk/s400/Factory_5.jpg" width="276" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eEtPEBAOzyo/UZgoiME_EqI/AAAAAAAAFkE/WCd4cqYW2OU/s1600/Factory_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eEtPEBAOzyo/UZgoiME_EqI/AAAAAAAAFkE/WCd4cqYW2OU/s400/Factory_6.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kIlxunHmkZ8/UZgoiSjy1dI/AAAAAAAAFkQ/DHuazMkoDx0/s1600/Factory_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kIlxunHmkZ8/UZgoiSjy1dI/AAAAAAAAFkQ/DHuazMkoDx0/s400/Factory_7.jpg" width="303" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Everything was faced with wooden strips.&nbsp; I decided to go vertical rather than horizontal with the facing, based on some pictures I saw of old factories, and also to give the structure a sense of height.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l7P5Lq4UWqM/UZgoih3zdaI/AAAAAAAAFkM/I3rQzdnZWRg/s1600/Factory_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l7P5Lq4UWqM/UZgoih3zdaI/AAAAAAAAFkM/I3rQzdnZWRg/s400/Factory_8.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bB9LUZOzRww/UZgojhlcIGI/AAAAAAAAFkc/IYZnN2MT6jI/s1600/Factory_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">This all took time, and I got pretty tired of it at one point!&nbsp; But after a long break, I got back to it and added a covered conveyor system to the top of the tower.&nbsp; Right now I'm looking for material that can be used for the corrugated iron roofing, and then its adding pipes, a crane, wires, and assorted industrial frippery to give it atmosphere.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">But right now, I need to work on tarting up the administration building (the old control tower), so that it has less of an Airfix-y look about it.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rt5sT4n6NPM/Vv9TpoqeZmI/AAAAAAAAHHc/Wwapf0dNwHAGkesLP9edomP1PZGb_eTdA/s1600/Kursk_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rt5sT4n6NPM/Vv9TpoqeZmI/AAAAAAAAHHc/Wwapf0dNwHAGkesLP9edomP1PZGb_eTdA/s400/Kursk_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">No, its not a litter box, although he was fascinated with the sound of the dice rattling down the tower and seeing them appear in the tray.&nbsp; He'll have to be watched.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hopefully I should have it done by the end of the month, in time for a game in May. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-27859090935003272812016-04-02T15:03:00.001+09:002016-04-02T21:39:18.936+09:00All quiet on the Eastern Front.<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I realized I haven't updated any of my blogs for ages, and this one for over three whole years.&nbsp; This is partly because I've already been having to spend a lot of time at the computer what with work and other commitments, but mostly due a lack of anything relevant to say!&nbsp; Its been ages since my last WW2 game using my Russians.&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Which is not to say I haven't been gaming; I have.&nbsp; This past year it has been <b><i>Bolt Action</i></b> with my<a href="http://serreslesrangs.blogspot.jp/2015/09/they-dont-like-it-up-em.html"> <span style="color: red;">IJA in 28mm</span></a><span style="color: red;">,</span> and even some Dark Ages games using the fun <b><i>One Hour Wargames</i></b> rules by Neil Thomas.&nbsp; We even managed another Napoleonics game using <b><i>Black Powder.</i></b>&nbsp; Still, due to life and family commitments among the usual crowd, getting in any sort of regular gaming has been an elusive goal, so its been a mixed bag of games so far- not that I'm complaining, its great just to be able to game at all! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">But 20mm Eastern Front games have, unfortunately, been off the radar, so there has been no action there from either the gaming or modelling angle.&nbsp; Until very recently, when Rod and I thought it would be great to try the <b><i>Battlegroup Kursk</i></b> rules that have been languishing unloved on my shelf over the past few years.&nbsp; Nothing wrong with BKC, but we thought we would try something different, and like the morale system that BGK uses.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://theplasticsoldiercompany.co.uk/images/cover_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://theplasticsoldiercompany.co.uk/images/cover_1.jpg" height="320" width="251" /></a>&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">No matter how long it stays on the back-burner, I find I always keep coming back to 20mm WW2 at some time or another.&nbsp; My WW2 Soviet collection is long in the tooth, but is large and has given excellent service.&nbsp; Still it could always grow, and I think some of the older models and figures need to be retired or at least get a fresh coat of paint and/ or a new uniform issue, and perhaps a more up-to-date (and less time-consuming) basing.&nbsp; </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">And through no fault of his own, our German player has been working weekends so my Russians now find themselves with no-one to fight!&nbsp;&nbsp; Besides, his Germans are more for 1944-45, while I'm more interested in 1943; so I decided it is high time to build up a German force of my own.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">So as a strategic reserve I've rummaged through my kit cache and cobbled together six Italeri fast-build Pz-III's and a PSC Stug III (where I managed to mix up the drive and idler sprockets and only noticed after the cement had set- since patched up after a fashion).&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pleased with the results, and looking at the gaps in my collection I recently ordered some new kit from PSC.&nbsp; These includes a Marder, a box of infantry and heavy weapons, and of course the iconic Hanomags.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dj7GTLAm3Mc/Vv9TpiFQXKI/AAAAAAAAHHk/Bg7ripIKwzArnIOE2wrvhYqFy93PkC6bg/s1600/Kursk_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dj7GTLAm3Mc/Vv9TpiFQXKI/AAAAAAAAHHk/Bg7ripIKwzArnIOE2wrvhYqFy93PkC6bg/s400/Kursk_1.jpg" width="293" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm also getting back to work on my bevy of Zvezda T-34/76's and PSC T-70's to face them, along with a bit of artillery support. Basically the vehicles just need some stowage (already ordered from Value Gear in the US, and on its way here), and for me to add grab rails on the T-34's from brass wire.&nbsp; Then it's painting time.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HUysE9MUSrA/Vv9TpyTXvUI/AAAAAAAAHHk/U6fAAHILkAkN6353rRMkdBhrowuHXoHwA/s1600/Kursk_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #cc0000;"></span><img border="0" height="293" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HUysE9MUSrA/Vv9TpyTXvUI/AAAAAAAAHHk/U6fAAHILkAkN6353rRMkdBhrowuHXoHwA/s400/Kursk_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I also needed to blow the dust off them!</i></span></span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-52664619502221943622013-03-31T11:54:00.001+09:002016-04-02T21:27:05.908+09:0012-y Gvardeiskoi Tankovoi Brigady<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">A few weeks ago I received two boxes of PSC's excellent little T-70 light tank, along with one box of four 76.2mm Zis 3 "Crash-Boom" artillery pieces.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--wojHCaYz-4/UVeYoeoK4AI/AAAAAAAAFbg/JFFwplgRojY/s1600/PSC+T-70.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--wojHCaYz-4/UVeYoeoK4AI/AAAAAAAAFbg/JFFwplgRojY/s400/PSC+T-70.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Z7bNBexivc/UVeYsuG_86I/AAAAAAAAFbw/9jg40OCzMKA/s1600/PSC+Zis+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Z7bNBexivc/UVeYsuG_86I/AAAAAAAAFbw/9jg40OCzMKA/s400/PSC+Zis+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">These are very nice little kits, and I really like the tiny T-70's.&nbsp; I already have two I got years ago from Skytrex, but they were really squashy little castings- these are much, much better models and better capture the shape of the actual vehicle.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Looking over the mountain of kits sitting on top of the bookshelves (and threatening to fly off in all directions come the next sizeable earth tremor), I realize now that I finally have all I need to create a Soviet 1943 Tank Brigade for <i><b>Blitzkrieg Commander II</b></i>, using the organizations given in Frank Chadwick's <i><b>Command Decision</b></i> rule set.&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">BKC-II doesn't cover national formations, and if it did the book would have had to be huge!&nbsp; But it does contain comprehensive stats for vehicles, artillery, and infantry for the gamer to assemble a points-based force.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">This is fine, but I've always liked basing my wargaming forces on historical orders of battle<span style="font-size: large;">.&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">Fortunately<span style="font-size: large;">,&nbsp; <span style="font-size: large;">the <span style="font-size: large;">BKC <span style="font-size: large;">website </span></span>has<span style="font-size: large;"> available </span>a very <span style="font-size: large;">use<span style="font-size: large;">f<span style="font-size: large;">ul <a href="http://www.specialist-military-publishing.co.uk/Downloads/Publications/BKC-II/BKC-Converting-OOBs.pdf"><b>g</b></a><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.specialist-military-publishing.co.uk/Downloads/Publications/BKC-II/BKC-Converting-OOBs.pdf"><b>uide</b></a> <span style="font-size: large;">on converting<span style="font-size: large;"> or<span style="font-size: large;">ders of battles<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;">for BKC-II</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">.&nbsp; So I sat down and converted the CD list for a 1943 Soviet Tank Brigade for use in BKC-II games, as you can see <a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/8/12/1342564//12-y%20Gvardeiskoi%20Tankovoi%20Brigady%20.pdf"><b>here</b></a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is a scaled-down version to be sure, and one vehicle equals approximately five actual vehicles.&nbsp; This keeps vehicle and troop numbers manageable and rationalizes some of the abstractions in the rules.<span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">After all, I've always done it in my horse-and-musket wargaming where painting up 36 miniatures to represent a battalion is a <b>lot</b> more feasible that trying to do it using 750 miniatures at a 1:1 representation!<span style="font-family: inherit;">&nbsp;</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It does mean that players hav<span style="font-size: large;">e to remind themsel<span style="font-size: large;">ves <span style="font-size: large;">during the game that this<span style="font-size: large;"> s<span style="font-size: large;">tand of fi<span style="font-size: large;">gures represents a platoon, and that the tank lurking behind the dilapidated hut o<span style="font-size: large;">ver there </span>represents five actual vehic<span style="font-size: large;">l<span style="font-size: large;">es</span></span>.&nbsp; The results are the outcome of com<span style="font-size: large;">bat be<span style="font-size: large;">tween two <b>bodies</b> of troops, not in<span style="font-size: large;">dividuals.&nbsp; It's not a skirmish gam<span style="font-size: large;">e<span style="font-size: large;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">I should point out that my list represents a brigade at full strength<span style="font-size: large;">, <span style="font-size: large;">and almost as soon as these brigades<span style="font-size: large;"> were committed to combat</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> on the Easter<span style="font-size: large;">n Front</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">, the actual streng<span style="font-size: large;">th of the unit would <span style="font-size: large;">start to dimi<span style="font-size: large;">ni<span style="font-size: large;">sh <span style="font-size: large;">due to com<span style="font-size: large;">bat loss<span style="font-size: large;">es<span style="font-size: large;"> and <span style="font-size: large;">attrition<span style="font-size: large;">, sometimes ending up with a staggeringly<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> few operational vehic<span style="font-size: large;">les.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">But in gaming terms <span style="font-size: large;">it<span style="font-size: large;">'s <span style="font-size: large;">good for <span style="font-size: large;">the start of a <span style="font-size: large;">campaign, and i<span style="font-size: large;">f we are playing <span style="font-size: large;">a points-based game <span style="font-size: large;">it would be much m<span style="font-size: large;">ore likely for a fo<span style="font-size: large;">r<span style="font-size: large;">ce selection to be made<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;">from</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> a<span style="font-size: large;">n actual f<span style="font-size: large;">or<span style="font-size: large;">mation like this, rather than just to cherry-pick<span style="font-size: large;"> a<span style="font-size: large;">n ad-hoc for<span style="font-size: large;">mation </span></span></span>from the whole ra<span style="font-size: large;">nge of actual vehic<span style="font-size: large;">les<span style="font-size: large;"> and units available (German players please take note!)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My brigade will represent the <i>12-y Gvardeiskoi Tankovoi Brigady</i>, or <b>12<span style="font-size: large;">th&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: large;">Guards </span>Tank Brigade</b> under the command of Col. Nikolai Grigoryevich Dushak from 1943 to 1945.&nbsp; This brigade was part of the <i>4-y Gvardeiskoi Tankovoi Korpus</i>, the <b>4th Guards Tank Corps</b> commanded by Gen-Lt. Pavel Pavlovich Poluboyarov.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Poluboyarov was one of the rising s<span style="font-size: large;">tars of the <span style="font-size: large;">RKKA<span style="font-size: large;">, and</span></span></span> after the war went on to become <i>Marshal of Armoured Forces</i>.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here they are in action.<span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;</span> Col. Dushak on the left, his boss Gen. Poluboyarov on the right<span style="font-size: large;">, as t<span style="font-size: large;">hey do their part in hurling the Fascist vipers<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> out of the Socialist Motherland<span style="font-size: large;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PRdhiXGZlwY/UVenbmT2hMI/AAAAAAAAFcI/arWho4MVRpE/s1600/4th+Tank+Corps+Brass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PRdhiXGZlwY/UVenbmT2hMI/AAAAAAAAFcI/arWho4MVRpE/s320/4th+Tank+Corps+Brass.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">At some point I will add a list for other ele<span style="font-size: large;">ments of the 4th Tank Corps, including <span style="font-size: large;">heavy tank and SPG support, a motorized r<span style="font-size: large;">ifle and motor<span style="font-size: large;">cycle battalion, and other <span style="font-size: large;">goodies.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Right now I'm<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>w<span style="font-size: large;">orking on making a list for that other esse<span style="font-size: large;">ntial for <span style="font-size: large;">a Soviet player, a common-and-garden infantry regiment from a Rif<span style="font-size: large;">le Division along with <span style="font-size: large;">it's typical support units.&nbsp; <span style="font-size: large;">Gotta love horse-drawn artillery<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: &quot;stencil&quot;;">.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: &quot;stencil&quot;;">&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div></div><div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"></div></div></div><div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"></div></div></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-15885697992585415262013-03-16T19:05:00.001+09:002013-04-03T22:31:19.519+09:00Dusting off the Popovs<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not much activity on this blog over the last year, basically because the focus at the West Tokyo Wargamers has been on Napoleonic wargaming using <b>Warlord Games' <i>Black Powder</i></b> rules.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">However, on our gaming day in February, most of the usual <i>grognards</i> were unable to make it due to various commitments.&nbsp; So without a quorum for Napoleonics, Giovanni and I both felt that it could be a good opportunity for a<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>long-overdue game of <b>Blitzkrieg Commander II</b>.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">So we decided that we would leave the olive groves of the Peninsula behind us for the day, and instead dust off our Soviets and Germans for another bloody struggle among the birch forests and rolling steppes of the Eastern Front.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wSjXRdejUHI/URiJQ6fm1nI/AAAAAAAAFJI/OrW5idWmjns/s1600/BKCII_8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wSjXRdejUHI/URiJQ6fm1nI/AAAAAAAAFJI/OrW5idWmjns/s400/BKCII_8.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">We decided to keep the game small- 1000 points from<span style="font-size: large;"> late<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span>1943. <span style="font-size: large;">The ev<span style="font-size: large;">ening bef<span style="font-size: large;">ore the game we<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span>devised our lists using the oh-so-useful <a href="http://www.specialist-military-publishing.co.uk/Content/Battlegroups/Wizard.aspx">Battlegroups Online</a> tool over at the BKC website.&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">It didn't take long to discover that you don't get much for 1000 points!&nbsp; But that was part of the challenge, tweaking and varying the possible choice that would get me the best "bang" for my virtual rubles.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">And when I saw what a <span style="font-size: large;">tiny force</span> Giovanni was able to field with only 1000 points worth of Krupp steel and lantern-jawed <i>Lansers</i> from the corresponding German list, maybe I would have a chance!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Giovanni's Huns.&nbsp; The A/T gun is there for decoration, as Giovanni didn't have enough points to pay for one. But he was able to field two Pz-IV's, a <i>Grille</i> SPG, and a number of <span style="font-size: large;">halftracks and trucks full to the <span style="font-size: large;">b<span style="font-size: large;">rim with well-ar<span style="font-size: large;">med</span> and ruthless warriors<span style="font-size: large;"> of the Third Reich.</span></span></span></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D7kc_OzY42M/URiJPcStShI/AAAAAAAAFIk/Qss8BYCXZIU/s1600/BKCII_1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D7kc_OzY42M/URiJPcStShI/AAAAAAAAFIk/Qss8BYCXZIU/s400/BKCII_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X2QFjAtTo_o/URiJPeqZwVI/AAAAAAAAFIo/3bcMcDmPWiE/s1600/BKCII_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Most of my points were spent on infantry- lots of it.&nbsp; I went for<span style="font-size: large;"> just</span> one tank<span style="font-size: large;">, </span>but selected a good one; an OT-34 flamethrower<b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: large;">variant<b>. <i>V</i></b></span><b><i>ery</i></b> nasty if it could get to close quarters.&nbsp; My artillery consisted of two indirect fire weapons- an<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>82mm <span style="font-size: large;">and a<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span>120mm mortar.&nbsp; I had enough points left <span style="font-size: large;">over <span style="font-size: large;">for</span></span> a 76.2 gun for A/T work<span style="font-size: large;">.&nbsp;</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">I went for three c<span style="font-size: large;">ommand stands, one w<span style="font-size: large;">ith a factor of 8, the others of 7.&nbsp; In contra<span style="font-size: large;">st, t</span>he Ge<span style="font-size: large;">rmans would be a<span style="font-size: large;">ble to run r<span style="font-size: large;">ings <span style="font-size: large;">round <span style="font-size: large;">me wit<span style="font-size: large;">h their tw<span style="font-size: large;">o stands, which boasted a </span>command rating of 10 and 9.&nbsp; They also enjoyed a command radi<span style="font-size: large;">us of 20cm (being Soviets, mine was only a measly 15c<span style="font-size: large;">m<span style="font-size: large;">).&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">So as far as tactics we<span style="font-size: large;">nt, </span>the K.I.S.S<span style="font-size: large;">. prin<span style="font-size: large;">ciple dictated that I wouldn't be trying anything too <span style="font-size: large;">adventurous, lest I get my <span style="font-size: large;">bare Bolshevik butt spanked by the much-more-mobile <span style="font-size: large;">Fascists</span> for my pains</span>.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w4Hn_kin3m0/URiJPf8CbyI/AAAAAAAAFIs/1i-ns8nzPt8/s1600/BKCII_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w4Hn_kin3m0/URiJPf8CbyI/AAAAAAAAFIs/1i-ns8nzPt8/s400/BKCII_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">NKVD make sure that the Soviet infantry are dutifully maintaining the required Revolutionary Zeal- or else!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BYSyLSSXOlg/URiJPzTPX1I/AAAAAAAAFI0/JD67WZPi3n4/s1600/BKCII_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BYSyLSSXOlg/URiJPzTPX1I/AAAAAAAAFI0/JD67WZPi3n4/s400/BKCII_4.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">View of the <span style="font-size: large;">village (h</span>amlet really).</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kkXFO2YmUiw/URiJQKw6CII/AAAAAAAAFI8/s-JEs_NdcLY/s1600/BKCII_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kkXFO2YmUiw/URiJQKw6CII/AAAAAAAAFI8/s-JEs_NdcLY/s400/BKCII_5.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">The river ran down the middle of table lengthwise, with two crossable fords.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NYzoBRMGXBY/URiJQfpo_YI/AAAAAAAAFJA/m29QSxYZyOk/s1600/BKCII_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NYzoBRMGXBY/URiJQfpo_YI/AAAAAAAAFJA/m29QSxYZyOk/s400/BKCII_6.jpg" width="357" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">The Soviets had built a timber bunker in the woods next to the village, covering one of the ford<span style="font-size: large;">s.&nbsp; <span style="font-size: large;">As it turned out, the Ger<span style="font-size: large;">m<span style="font-size: large;">ans were able to d<span style="font-size: large;">rive <span style="font-size: large;">across the ford with impunity <span style="font-size: large;">due to good <span style="font-size: large;">co<span style="font-size: large;">m<span style="font-size: large;">mand rolls <span style="font-size: large;">on their part, and shit<span style="font-size: large;">ty shooting on mine.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NHNcN0QBXNg/URiJQpI6csI/AAAAAAAAFJE/as_Chf9W79k/s1600/BKCII_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NHNcN0QBXNg/URiJQpI6csI/AAAAAAAAFJE/as_Chf9W79k/s400/BKCII_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wSjXRdejUHI/URiJQ6fm1nI/AAAAAAAAFJI/OrW5idWmjns/s1600/BKCII_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0hBxVxWAfTs/URiJRKd48AI/AAAAAAAAFJM/0EXLZrr5lUI/s1600/BKCII_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0hBxVxWAfTs/URiJRKd48AI/AAAAAAAAFJM/0EXLZrr5lUI/s400/BKCII_9.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LsLI5mhh8yI/URiJZpeL3NI/AAAAAAAAFJo/WLHJ7DNv95A/s1600/BKCII_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LsLI5mhh8yI/URiJZpeL3NI/AAAAAAAAFJo/WLHJ7DNv95A/s400/BKCII_11.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">The Germans started with an attack on the settlement with part of their force, while Panzer Grenadiers supported by a Pz-IV commenced a flanking attack.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5E6bkWPpWdE/URiJZiIL5xI/AAAAAAAAFJs/CL3SrKuSKZo/s1600/BKCII_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5E6bkWPpWdE/URiJZiIL5xI/AAAAAAAAFJs/CL3SrKuSKZo/s400/BKCII_12.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">The bunker was actually designed for our 28mm Napoleonic games as a pow<span style="font-size: large;">der </span>magazine for a redoubt, but it works just fine here.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AiZ_cfLTx30/URiJZuXkN6I/AAAAAAAAFJw/dUzG1syeQMc/s1600/BKCII_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AiZ_cfLTx30/URiJZuXkN6I/AAAAAAAAFJw/dUzG1syeQMc/s400/BKCII_10.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">The OT-34 heads off to take on the infantry, but trying to pass the necessary command roll proves elusive.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6bxOBkY8HXQ/URiJaLUvLtI/AAAAAAAAFJ4/SNC0sceazwk/s1600/BKCII_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6bxOBkY8HXQ/URiJaLUvLtI/AAAAAAAAFJ4/SNC0sceazwk/s400/BKCII_13.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">And then the PZ-IV has him in his sights...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TUti3uvJY34/URiJaJenPCI/AAAAAAAAFKI/4OZFHnac7sI/s1600/BKCII_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TUti3uvJY34/URiJaJenPCI/AAAAAAAAFKI/4OZFHnac7sI/s400/BKCII_14.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4kj2BVDgG2w/URiJaktK2DI/AAAAAAAAFKY/y3sH-o-mYQ0/s1600/BKCII_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">...promptly sending my only armour <span style="font-size: large;">asset</span> to Socialist <span style="font-size: large;">Valhalla</span>.&nbsp; Oh, crap.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ceKRnyK35fA/URiJaF-ZPpI/AAAAAAAAFJ8/Uq1hL7FxcKk/s1600/BKCII_15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ceKRnyK35fA/URiJaF-ZPpI/AAAAAAAAFJ8/Uq1hL7FxcKk/s400/BKCII_15.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;</span></div><span style="font-size: large;">The elate<span style="font-size: large;">d </span>P<span style="font-size: large;">z-IV crew w<span style="font-size: large;">ent on to celebrate<span style="font-size: large;"> by </span>blasting <span style="font-size: large;">my<span style="font-size: large;"> now-exposed 82mm <span style="font-size: large;">mortar team <span style="font-size: large;">into oblivion.&nbsp; <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Soviet f<span style="font-size: large;">ield te<span style="font-size: large;">lep<span style="font-size: large;">hone lines were <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">becoming</span> red hot with<span style="font-size: large;"> panicky calls for help,<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">only to be an<span style="font-size: large;">swered</span></span> with terse instructions to just suck it all<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>up, and to <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">get on with the job of ridding</span> the Motherland of the Fascist threat<span style="font-size: large;">.<span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp; </span></span>Orders that were well<span style="font-size: large;">-</span>seasone<span style="font-size: large;">d </span></span>w<span style="font-size: large;">ith dark<span style="font-size: large;">,</span> dire </span></span>and deadly<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;"></span>serious </span>thre<span style="font-size: large;">ats.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">With the Pz-IV apparently<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;">crushing</span> the Soviets like so <span style="font-size: large;">many ants, <span style="font-size: large;">its</span></span></span></span> following German infantry- now without the OT-34 t<span style="font-size: large;">o cower from<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">- discover new-found co<span style="font-size: large;">urage, and decide to </span><span style="font-size: large;">launch<span style="font-size: large;"> an</span></span></span></span></span> attack in a<span style="font-size: large;"> determined</span> effort to clear out<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>the Soviet infantry holding the woods.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We learned here that t</span><span style="font-size: large;">his is where a Soviet infantry force is at its best; in short<span style="font-size: large;">-</span>range fighting, in close terra<span style="font-size: large;">in, and </span>where numbers count.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UjXL7kGewf4/UUQ-6AxYK4I/AAAAAAAAFa8/J9dH-cBf7KI/s1600/BKCII_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UjXL7kGewf4/UUQ-6AxYK4I/AAAAAAAAFa8/J9dH-cBf7KI/s400/BKCII_16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was a very long time since we last played th<span style="font-size: large;">e game, and even longer<span style="font-size: large;"> since our last large-scale close com<span style="font-size: large;">bat engag<span style="font-size: large;">ement.&nbsp; So were unfa<span style="font-size: large;">miliar with the</span></span></span></span></span></span> game mechanics, and had to refer <span style="font-size: large;">in detail to the rulebook.&nbsp; The rules</span> work elegantly well for infantry fights, and turned out a lot easier to work out than <span style="font-size: large;">we</span> had expected (once we got it right!)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The German infantry fought fiercely, but in the face of overwhelming local odds were eventually repulsed, never to return.&nbsp; For them, <i>ze war vas over</i>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, German infantry enter the village, but find themselves held at bay by some very accurate mortar fire. The mortar was to give sterling service throughout the game.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eBkyWKrScec/URiJasxdkxI/AAAAAAAAFKc/RGRhWQxDx1c/s1600/BKCII_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eBkyWKrScec/URiJasxdkxI/AAAAAAAAFKc/RGRhWQxDx1c/s400/BKCII_17.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dRyOSsn43gI/URiJbkORo3I/AAAAAAAAFKw/DqjAgPQvuJM/s1600/BKCII_19.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dRyOSsn43gI/URiJbkORo3I/AAAAAAAAFKw/DqjAgPQvuJM/s400/BKCII_19.jpg" width="400" /></a>&nbsp;</span></div><span style="font-size: large;">The all-destroying PZ-IV was on the prowl for fresh prey, and soon found itself eng<span style="font-size: large;">aging</span> in a dual with my 76.2mm A/T gun, which <span style="font-size: large;">now found itself on the <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">verge of being out</span>flanked</span></span>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Fortunately it was <span style="font-size: large;">able to <span style="font-size: large;">turn to <span style="font-size: large;">face the threat, but <span style="font-size: large;">its crew</span> were <span style="font-size: large;">very <span style="font-size: large;">much</span></span> aware that the Germans were encas<span style="font-size: large;">ed in several <span style="font-size: large;">inches of </span>hardened Krupp nickel-steel</span></span></span></span> plating.&nbsp; In<span style="font-size: large;"> contrast, the Red<span style="font-size: large;"> gunners</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span> <span style="font-size: large;">had only<span style="font-size: large;"> the thickness of their</span> <span style="font-size: large;">padded cott<span style="font-size: large;">on <span style="font-size: large;">jackets for <span style="font-size: large;">protectio<span style="font-size: large;">n</span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Not encouraging...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pvs85voJSYg/URiJawrGQGI/AAAAAAAAFKg/GffkMzBX5TM/s1600/BKCII_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pvs85voJSYg/URiJawrGQGI/AAAAAAAAFKg/GffkMzBX5TM/s400/BKCII_18.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">But luck was on the side of the doughty Popovs this time, and <span style="font-size: large;">had run ou<span style="font-size: large;">t for the <span style="font-size: large;">Ge<span style="font-size: large;">rmans</span></span></span></span>.&nbsp; Scratch one Pz-IV.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iFTcTndjnkI/URiJpQ-egsI/AAAAAAAAFK8/eknIiTSUbBo/s1600/BKCII_20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iFTcTndjnkI/URiJpQ-egsI/AAAAAAAAFK8/eknIiTSUbBo/s400/BKCII_20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">It didn't help that Giovanni ne<span style="font-size: large;">glected to chance<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> a<span style="font-size: large;">nother shot by t<span style="font-size: large;">aking one more try at a command roll.</span></span></span></span></span>&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The remaining&nbsp; Pz-IV, assisted by a <i>Grille</i> SPG, advances in support of the hard-pressed German infantry in the village.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VQaugQHZo0I/URiJpYGxG6I/AAAAAAAAFLA/AT7FLA6ORRI/s1600/BKCII_21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VQaugQHZo0I/URiJpYGxG6I/AAAAAAAAFLA/AT7FLA6ORRI/s400/BKCII_21.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">These</span> now face the prospect of a whole <span style="font-size: large;">company of </span>Soviet infantry rushing to aid the defense, all flushed with confidence from their having just recently thrashed the Hitlerite flanking force.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8_tu-oJ8IHs/URiJpwwnrcI/AAAAAAAAFLQ/aQqOsZHxci4/s1600/BKCII_24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8_tu-oJ8IHs/URiJpwwnrcI/AAAAAAAAFLQ/aQqOsZHxci4/s400/BKCII_24.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NyPvQx4KEJ4/URiJp1fX6kI/AAAAAAAAFLU/N7oPnYrNxyk/s1600/BKCII_23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NyPvQx4KEJ4/URiJp1fX6kI/AAAAAAAAFLU/N7oPnYrNxyk/s400/BKCII_23.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>"Urrah!!!"</i></b></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">But with such a small force, the Germans have taken losses that they cannot really afford.&nbsp; They have to roll to see if they break under the pressure of excessive casualties- and lo and behold, they do!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Scheisse....</i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WTk5UfznJkY/URiJpTkz3_I/AAAAAAAAFLE/I9QS7Sdz5FY/s1600/BKCII_22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WTk5UfznJkY/URiJpTkz3_I/AAAAAAAAFLE/I9QS7Sdz5FY/s400/BKCII_22.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The<span style="font-size: large;"> Ge<span style="font-size: large;">rmans decide to <span style="font-size: large;">call off the attack, and<span style="font-size: large;"> lick their wou<span style="font-size: large;">nds as the commanders <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">go back to the drawing <span style="font-size: large;">board.&nbsp; They would be back</span></span>- but doub<span style="font-size: large;">tless only after the S<span style="font-size: large;">tukas get their chance to even the odds.&nbsp; But that would be a story for another day.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">S</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>o a rare Soviet victory!&nbsp; We really enjoyed the game as it was very much touch-and-go.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The Soviets didn't have much in the way of sexy armour and mobility, especially once the OT-34 flamethrower tank was toasted<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">.&nbsp; A</span>nd</span> don't expect too much in the way of </span><span style="font-size: large;">complicated, </span><span style="font-size: large;">sweeping<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>maneuvers given their poor command factors and tactical doctrine<span style="font-size: large;">.</span> </span><span style="font-size: large;">But give them a strong pos<span style="font-size: large;">ition, and a</span> built-up area to fight <span style="font-size: large;">in, </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">and they are in their element.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Well worth dusting off the figures, and it rekindled my interest in WW2 gaming<span style="font-size: large;">.</span>&nbsp; After the game, I decided to beef up my forces and ordered some of the new T-70's from PSC, along with some field guns.&nbsp; I can't yet decide to assemble them as 57mm A/T guns, or as a battery of 76.2mm field guns.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Decisions, decisions...</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-63614128997477751352011-10-10T12:17:00.002+09:002011-10-10T21:00:31.850+09:00It's the Gulags for me...<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The recent games day at the <i><b>West Tokyo Wargamers</b></i> saw Brian and I try our hands at another&nbsp; WW2 game using Blitzkrieg Commander II.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SLUWBJvu2sA/TpJIcrCXN_I/AAAAAAAADLw/Xh3HwRxEWo0/s1600/Sov_30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SLUWBJvu2sA/TpJIcrCXN_I/AAAAAAAADLw/Xh3HwRxEWo0/s400/Sov_30.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: small;">Let the recriminations begin:&nbsp; The NKVD were to have a busy day...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brian has a British army for BKC II, but this time he wanted to try his hand at taking on the Soviets, and I was willing to oblige.&nbsp; So for this game, he arranged to borrow Giovanni's Germans.&nbsp;&nbsp; We decided that the scenario would see the Germans attacking a settlement defended by the Soviets, sometime in late 1943. Germans had 1750 pts, the Soviets just over&nbsp; 1500.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">We were joined for this game by Sawamoto-san,&nbsp; a young university student here with an interest in WW2.&nbsp; He had seen our blog and showed up to the club to see what we were all about.&nbsp; He had never played a miniature wargame before (he had some experience with computer games), but he was very willing to give it a go.&nbsp; For a first time player, he did very well, and clearly understood how to use his armoured infantry properly!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Giovanni was generous enough to bring much of his terrain and vehicles for us to use.&nbsp; But he hadn't bought much in the way of infantry, so Brian had little choice but to devise an armour-heavy, elite force which would be tasked with trying to winkle the Popovs out of a defensive position.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I wasn't unduly concerned at this, given the difficulties of nailing infantry in cover in BKC II.&nbsp; The terrain was dense, and not really conducive to armour operations- it would be tough for him to take- and importantly to hold- the ground.&nbsp; While it would be tough for me to deal with all that armour,&nbsp; I felt it could be done with the force at my disposal, which had a good amount of artillery for its size. I was reasonably confident my Russkis would give a good account of themselves.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0dQEfWukvuU/TpJNhO5AzJI/AAAAAAAADL0/C2jQetuYmIU/s1600/Sov_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0dQEfWukvuU/TpJNhO5AzJI/AAAAAAAADL0/C2jQetuYmIU/s400/Sov_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: small;">The table setup- view from the German side</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wrong!!!&nbsp;&nbsp; Unfortunately, just about everything that could go wrong for the Soviets, did!&nbsp; I made some fundamental deployment errors at the beginning, and to make matters worse my die rolling could not be more abysmal. A command blunder resulted in a large part of my force virtually committing suicide.&nbsp; Let's say for now that will be no more room at the Gulag this week, and supplies of cigarettes and blindfolds for the officers involved are running low.</span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UIi7fu_NGOs/TpJNjuea1uI/AAAAAAAADL4/nfU04rSPE3g/s1600/Sov_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="361" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UIi7fu_NGOs/TpJNjuea1uI/AAAAAAAADL4/nfU04rSPE3g/s400/Sov_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">The settlement- lots of good cover for Ivan</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr style="color: orange;"><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vjaAGzkLHqI/TpJNmFBsRxI/AAAAAAAADL8/Q-dXDcuVP-I/s1600/Sov_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vjaAGzkLHqI/TpJNmFBsRxI/AAAAAAAADL8/Q-dXDcuVP-I/s400/Sov_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr style="color: orange;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Soviet forces prior to deployment</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WNJ_pkwWHbk/TpJNpCZJLnI/AAAAAAAADMA/pKop9rDFL5I/s1600/Sov_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WNJ_pkwWHbk/TpJNpCZJLnI/AAAAAAAADMA/pKop9rDFL5I/s400/Sov_4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">Lots of infantry!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PDKhw3mmEko/TpJNsAZ-g8I/AAAAAAAADME/QySdEmYhYH8/s1600/Sov_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="371" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PDKhw3mmEko/TpJNsAZ-g8I/AAAAAAAADME/QySdEmYhYH8/s400/Sov_5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">...supported by a couple of T-70m light tanks</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nUZ3lkzYDNU/TpJNth9bNEI/AAAAAAAADMI/PA1s2b92yy4/s1600/Sov_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nUZ3lkzYDNU/TpJNth9bNEI/AAAAAAAADMI/PA1s2b92yy4/s400/Sov_6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">As well as meatier stuff!&nbsp; This is an OT-34 flamethrower tank I made years ago, with an SU-122 behind it.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Phl9aMh8-5k/TpJNwrFYZPI/AAAAAAAADMM/NfDTeR7XjbI/s1600/Sov_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Phl9aMh8-5k/TpJNwrFYZPI/AAAAAAAADMM/NfDTeR7XjbI/s400/Sov_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">The Soviets take their positions on the left</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fpXXUTDmxD0/TpJNxyEkaEI/AAAAAAAADMQ/hHBxf1tsgGg/s1600/Sov_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fpXXUTDmxD0/TpJNxyEkaEI/AAAAAAAADMQ/hHBxf1tsgGg/s400/Sov_8.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">...while the Germans enter the field.&nbsp; The </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="color: orange;">Sturmtiger</i></span><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;"> is proxying for a </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="color: orange;">Brummbar</i><span style="color: orange;">.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KZtEf18fhk4/TpJN0WfmrqI/AAAAAAAADMU/vNdmRobr7xw/s1600/Sov_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KZtEf18fhk4/TpJN0WfmrqI/AAAAAAAADMU/vNdmRobr7xw/s400/Sov_9.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">Soviet armour heads down the road.&nbsp; A decision the Soviet command would later regret...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KfDEZmU6tfs/TpJN2Q1XtsI/AAAAAAAADMY/z8DL3f_qPWY/s1600/Sov_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="343" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KfDEZmU6tfs/TpJN2Q1XtsI/AAAAAAAADMY/z8DL3f_qPWY/s400/Sov_10.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">On the right, the Popovs prepare A/T positions and orders are given.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y6AJXFOZfBA/TpJN3iSpsVI/AAAAAAAADMc/kav3eW_k-Hs/s1600/Sov_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y6AJXFOZfBA/TpJN3iSpsVI/AAAAAAAADMc/kav3eW_k-Hs/s400/Sov_11.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">I've always found the 120mm mortar an </span><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: orange;">extremely</b></span><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;"> useful asset, and this game was no exception.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vtF1QO8qoiw/TpJN8w55flI/AAAAAAAADMk/TNMQxrQZjEg/s1600/Sov_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vtF1QO8qoiw/TpJN8w55flI/AAAAAAAADMk/TNMQxrQZjEg/s400/Sov_13.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">Major Wretchedski assures the C/O that everything is under control..</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qqju__8_svo/TpJN_TPSfEI/AAAAAAAADMo/B5Rc9j-w58k/s1600/Sov_14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qqju__8_svo/TpJN_TPSfEI/AAAAAAAADMo/B5Rc9j-w58k/s400/Sov_14.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">Great cover, A/T weapons, mortar support- what could </span><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: orange;">possibly</b></span><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;"> go wrong?</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bWdxwtwBunc/TpJOBaPJ5tI/AAAAAAAADMs/wMD_3rcEnG0/s1600/Sov_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bWdxwtwBunc/TpJOBaPJ5tI/AAAAAAAADMs/wMD_3rcEnG0/s400/Sov_15.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">Fascists in the woods!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D4NJCQ2UrR0/TpJOC1nyczI/AAAAAAAADMw/4-cpdTH2SAE/s1600/Sov_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D4NJCQ2UrR0/TpJOC1nyczI/AAAAAAAADMw/4-cpdTH2SAE/s400/Sov_16.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">"Something wicked this way comes..."</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BLH1VWEJWVA/TpJOEPIebxI/AAAAAAAADM0/m8hlrin-5A0/s1600/Sov_17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BLH1VWEJWVA/TpJOEPIebxI/AAAAAAAADM0/m8hlrin-5A0/s400/Sov_17.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">Gepanzert troops approach from the opposite flank, armed to the teeth with weaponry, brickwork and other construction materials.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aLLCGlXplWI/TpJOFjGfunI/AAAAAAAADM4/w5hNBxRLwME/s1600/Sov_18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aLLCGlXplWI/TpJOFjGfunI/AAAAAAAADM4/w5hNBxRLwME/s400/Sov_18.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr style="color: orange;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Maxim Sergeivitch, I <b>really</b> don't like the look of this!"</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nUkgVh4vViI/TpJOHXUopdI/AAAAAAAADM8/1wH7XgDBpPY/s1600/Sov_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nUkgVh4vViI/TpJOHXUopdI/AAAAAAAADM8/1wH7XgDBpPY/s400/Sov_19.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">The halftracks dropped the infantry off in the woods</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kA21Rf3Bw_U/TpJOJN7Gr5I/AAAAAAAADNA/K3NOrnHUH_c/s1600/Sov_20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kA21Rf3Bw_U/TpJOJN7Gr5I/AAAAAAAADNA/K3NOrnHUH_c/s400/Sov_20.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">As a pincer attack is clearly taking shape</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XOWtmjW8-Tk/TpJOKSi_UUI/AAAAAAAADNE/ZIaY00tAay4/s1600/Sov_21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="345" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XOWtmjW8-Tk/TpJOKSi_UUI/AAAAAAAADNE/ZIaY00tAay4/s400/Sov_21.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">"Oh why...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aaP0YyLrXi4/TpJOLSQAjcI/AAAAAAAADNI/kvBtajOKd-c/s1600/Sov_22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aaP0YyLrXi4/TpJOLSQAjcI/AAAAAAAADNI/kvBtajOKd-c/s400/Sov_22.jpg" width="392" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">..didn't I think</span><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0XmKck1TiEE/TpJONAcnsTI/AAAAAAAADNM/IsOBWpLSPhw/s1600/Sov_23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="327" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0XmKck1TiEE/TpJONAcnsTI/AAAAAAAADNM/IsOBWpLSPhw/s400/Sov_23.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">...to put the OT-34...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Lh7csxtoSw/TpJOPCGOkTI/AAAAAAAADNQ/GiYpdSxBKlc/s1600/Sov_24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Lh7csxtoSw/TpJOPCGOkTI/AAAAAAAADNQ/GiYpdSxBKlc/s400/Sov_24.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">...behind some decent cover?!?"</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NK09mrMSz6E/TpJOQFMvirI/AAAAAAAADNU/CalJTpAhkZI/s1600/Sov_25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NK09mrMSz6E/TpJOQFMvirI/AAAAAAAADNU/CalJTpAhkZI/s400/Sov_25.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">Stug III's enter the fray</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DBg5UHoW-bw/TpJOQ8djgnI/AAAAAAAADNY/Hfak7c84ia4/s1600/Sov_26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DBg5UHoW-bw/TpJOQ8djgnI/AAAAAAAADNY/Hfak7c84ia4/s400/Sov_26.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: orange;">"Where </span><b style="color: orange;">are</b><span style="color: orange;"> you, Little Popov?</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brian had clearly been learning the tricks of the BKC II trade since the last time I played with him. and has learned that when you have those 7.5 cm KwK 40 guns at your disposal, you don't need to get close- stand off and hit the enemy from a distance, with as many vehicles as you can bear on the target.&nbsp; And I obliged by </span><span style="font-size: large;">stupidly </span><span style="font-size: large;">putting my tank in the open.&nbsp; </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">But despite losing the OT-34 (and with it's 12 attack dice, I really could have kicked myself for not using it more effectively), my situation was by no means a desperate one.&nbsp; The Germans infantry had infiltrated the woods on the left, but could not see the Russians behind cover, who were waiting for the Germans to make the first move so they could open up on them with everything they had.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">But then, disaster struck with my first command blunder of the game.&nbsp; And it was a doozy.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Soviet commander on the left mistakenly ordered his men not just to break cover, but also to charge the nearest enemy to the front.&nbsp; The Soviets were about to recreate the first day of the Somme.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_bEI-OcDd_k/TpJOTJRRY_I/AAAAAAAADNc/mIpm0S1OhBQ/s1600/Sov_27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_bEI-OcDd_k/TpJOTJRRY_I/AAAAAAAADNc/mIpm0S1OhBQ/s400/Sov_27.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr style="color: #e69138;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"</span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>URRAH!</b></span><span style="font-size: small;">... </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>urk!</i></span><span style="font-size: small;">"</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the process they were pretty much wiped out, a few remaining (and mauled) stands retreating back into cover.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: large;">Think of that scene at the opening of<i> Enemy at the Gates</i>...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">In fact, the next 15 minutes of the game was spent working out the firing for that 80% of the German army who could get a shot in.&nbsp; And few missed!&nbsp; The Fascists rolled fantastically well all game.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">As for me, I was rolling high when I wanted low, and <i>vice-versa</i>.&nbsp; Not that it would have made any difference in this situation, and given the volume of firepower I was subject to.&nbsp; Brian was almost embarrassed at the destruction he was doling out, but my agitation was really directed at the dice gods and at my own stupidity, not him!</span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lNP7c6BIbAA/TpJOVIMDpaI/AAAAAAAADNg/e964qO_RH2I/s1600/Sov_28.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lNP7c6BIbAA/TpJOVIMDpaI/AAAAAAAADNg/e964qO_RH2I/s320/Sov_28.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">...and then</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pvr0jmYrOWc/TpJOWwDL8mI/AAAAAAAADNk/PUTRer3SFeg/s1600/Sov_29.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pvr0jmYrOWc/TpJOWwDL8mI/AAAAAAAADNk/PUTRer3SFeg/s320/Sov_29.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">...there were none. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="color: orange;">dakka-dakka-dakka</i></span><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j9uVxbnozps/TpJOaIsN9KI/AAAAAAAADNs/vUQuHO5IOmo/s1600/Sov_31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j9uVxbnozps/TpJOaIsN9KI/AAAAAAAADNs/vUQuHO5IOmo/s320/Sov_31.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">An enraged NKVD colonel orders the arrest, interrogation (with <b>extreme</b> prejudice), and liquidation of Major Wretchedski for his failure.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tkQmLGat8yE/TpJOcpRBUNI/AAAAAAAADNw/hhs3AmykN5Q/s1600/Sov_32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="323" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tkQmLGat8yE/TpJOcpRBUNI/AAAAAAAADNw/hhs3AmykN5Q/s400/Sov_32.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr style="color: orange;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Germans are quick to capitalize on the Soviet blunder, and assault the remaining platoons in the settlement.&nbsp; An A/T stand fights bravely for a brief time, but is overwhelmed by numbers.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rtOKnMCcivE/TpJOeMYsMkI/AAAAAAAADN0/inKOc0FB38w/s1600/Sov_33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rtOKnMCcivE/TpJOeMYsMkI/AAAAAAAADN0/inKOc0FB38w/s400/Sov_33.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">At this point in the battle, discretion is the better part of valour...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The Soviets continue to monotonously fail their command rolls, while the Germans grow weary from the mental effort of having to decide which units to slay next.&nbsp; In all my time playing BKC II, I have never seem myself so completely deserted by the Dice Gods.&nbsp; Usually things balance out over time, but this time Fate was <b>really</b> putting her boot into Popov crotch.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Devil's last fart in the direction of International Socialism came in the form of another command blunder, this time by the Soviet overall commander.&nbsp; The whole Soviet force, clearly demoralized and disoriented by all the crap coming down their way, pulled back out of their defences exposing themselves again to a blizzard of Krupp steel.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">At that point time the sands of time were running out, so the Soviet commander accepted the inevitable and ordered a general retreat.&nbsp; Somewhat academic, as everyone and his pack mule was high-tailing it back to the safety of the Ural mountains anyway.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">It will be a dreadful day of reckoning back in Moscow.&nbsp; </span></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-knnQkIio9LY/TpJOgZPYegI/AAAAAAAADN4/SQrFp7W84NA/s1600/Sov_34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-knnQkIio9LY/TpJOgZPYegI/AAAAAAAADN4/SQrFp7W84NA/s400/Sov_34.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">It's all over for the Soviet defenders</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr align="center"><td><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j7V0i02AhP0/TpJOiJmn80I/AAAAAAAADN8/koqRCWitkXw/s1600/Sov_35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j7V0i02AhP0/TpJOiJmn80I/AAAAAAAADN8/koqRCWitkXw/s400/Sov_35.jpg" width="393" /></a></span></td></tr><tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: orange; font-size: small;">To the victors, the spoils...</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I'd like to say it was fun, and it had it's moments, but in truth I found myself frustrated on numerous occasions. It was quite possibly the very worst defeat I have ever experienced in a wargame. &nbsp; It is easy to blame poor dice rolling (and I will, to an extent!), but there were other factors as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">One was that I did not use my armour as effectively as I could.&nbsp; Not only the OT-34, but with hindsight I should have placed my A/T gun and/ or the light tanks in the woods where the halftracks infiltrated.&nbsp; I could have hit them coming in, and pulled them back quickly before the inevitable retribution would start heading my way.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another error was not playing the Soviets to their strengths.&nbsp; The Germans have far more flexibility with their higher CV's, command range of 25cm rather than my 15cm, and in this game at least greater mobility.&nbsp; I would have been better to have concentrated my forces in one half of the settlement where the odds of passing the command rolls would have been higher.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, not that it really mattered the way this game played out, we really need to play with army break points.&nbsp; The Soviets can take a lot of punishment while the Germans really do not like taking too many casualties.&nbsp; In most games this could mean the Germans being more cautious with their assets.&nbsp; Mind you, Brian was being pretty cautious as it was!&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">But Brian and Sawamoto-san played a <b>very</b> good game, making no mistakes and making sensible use of terrain and of the resources they had.&nbsp; While they were heavy in armour, their force was weak in infantry, and it was infantry that would be needed to assault and turf me out of the settlements.&nbsp; But through my command blunders and my throwing away my armour support, I basically served them the victory; on a platter, with a side order of borscht and washed down with a bottle of strong vodka.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Clearly I lacked sufficient revolutionary zeal, and I would surely be paying the price in days to come.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Oh well, there will be other games, and I'll be having some more friends to help me, too...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/8/12/1342564/Library%20-%201992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/8/12/1342564/Library%20-%201992.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/8/12/1342564/Library%20-%201991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" src="http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/8/12/1342564/Library%20-%201991.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, music to listen to while drowning my sorrows in vodka: <i>"Song of the Desantniki"</i><embed autostart="false" height="40" loop="true" playcount="2" src="http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/8/12/1342564/namnuzhn.mp3" width="300"></embed></span></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-41753385558772401222011-08-12T10:27:00.008+09:002011-08-30T22:59:33.969+09:00Reinforcements from the Capitalist West!<div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oEnaq9R7Bw8/TkR7CfK9mbI/AAAAAAAADFA/7slntZ1I7F0/s1600/Sov_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oEnaq9R7Bw8/TkR7CfK9mbI/AAAAAAAADFA/7slntZ1I7F0/s400/Sov_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="color: #e69138;">Pride of place to the T-35.&nbsp; Looks impressive, and being made of white metal, it is one <b>heavy</b> model!</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">I can't believe it has been so long since I posted here, as it's not as if WW2 gaming has been ignored my end.&nbsp; Our group here in Tokyo (<b><a href="http://westtokyowargamers.blogspot.com/">The West Tokyo Wargamers</a></b>) has been involved in many different periods- and recently for me it has been Napoleonics- but WW2 has been a steady favourite, as you can see here.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/x6_i4UE735s" width="425"></iframe></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">But as my Soviet collection is more complete than my Napoleonic one, I have been spending more time on building French, Russians and now Prussians rather than churning out T-34's and the like.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">However, in July I was back in Vancouver for a spot 'o home leave, where I took the opportunity to pack up and ship my old collection of Soviets that I played with there.&nbsp; These were all built in the eighties and early nineties.&nbsp; I came to Japan originally with the intention of staying for three years.&nbsp; Nineteen years later, and having access to a well-established gaming club, it was time for them to be recommissioned, and to make the voyage westward.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">And these are seasoned troops!&nbsp; I played loads and loads of WW2 games in Vancouver back then using a variety of rules.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H15uU6p4prI/TkR6_8mq9gI/AAAAAAAADE8/SKYhzy4GTI0/s1600/Sov_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H15uU6p4prI/TkR6_8mq9gI/AAAAAAAADE8/SKYhzy4GTI0/s400/Sov_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I was a little concerned if they would survive the journey across the Pacific, as given the cost of postage from Kanuckistan these days, I opted to have them sent by sea mail.&nbsp; Fortunately, damage was very minimal, and nothing that cannot be repaired.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately, these do not represent any particular organization.&nbsp;&nbsp; In those days, the German player was spoiled for choice in a a number of ranges of readily-available kits in plastic, resin, and metal.&nbsp; Not so the collector of Soviet vehicles, who really had to hunt around.&nbsp; Getting&nbsp; any Soviet equipment in any quantity then, apart from T-34/85's and KV's. was a real headache (and expensive!).&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">In the picture, you can see some T-26 variants from the now long-defunct Akheton Models.&nbsp; These were uniformly dreadful, as was my choice of green paint!&nbsp; But in those pre-UM days, beggars couldn't be choosers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I also built a ISU-152 and IS-2, from a resin producer in California whose name I long forget.&nbsp; The current Fujimi IS-2m is a much, much better kit, as is Pegasus Hobbies' offering for both the IS-2m and the ISU-152.&nbsp; But hey, a bird in the hand...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Now as I mentioned these kits were built a long, long time ago, so I need to cut myself some slack for any inaccuracies.&nbsp; One thing I do regret having done back then is going overboard with the foliage and decals on all the models.&nbsp; I may give some of these kits a new paint job, or at least remove the vegetation!&nbsp; Those T-26's for a start.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The most useful models for my present force are the softskins and transports, not to mention some rather nice artillery pieces, including this pair of 160mm mortars!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XIo9rXczlD8/TkR7Iu3f9dI/AAAAAAAADFQ/Lg9STbNasSY/s1600/Sov_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XIo9rXczlD8/TkR7Iu3f9dI/AAAAAAAADFQ/Lg9STbNasSY/s400/Sov_4.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">One of my favourites was this scratch-built <a href="http://www.o5m6.de/s-2.html"><b>Stalinetz S2 High-Speed Tractor</b></a>.&nbsp; It looks very reminiscent of a German Raupenschlepper Ost, although I believe the Soviet vehicle was on the scene first.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UZ64LlCOfvs/TkR7Fdf0hEI/AAAAAAAADFI/0t2fQ_9SVZo/s1600/Sov_3a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UZ64LlCOfvs/TkR7Fdf0hEI/AAAAAAAADFI/0t2fQ_9SVZo/s400/Sov_3a.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LQFpGvUCd5A/TkR7G0HXWnI/AAAAAAAADFM/PlX4IbGtl1w/s1600/Sov_3b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="343" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LQFpGvUCd5A/TkR7G0HXWnI/AAAAAAAADFM/PlX4IbGtl1w/s400/Sov_3b.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">I took an old Roco 1/87th scale Pz-III. Cut the tracks in the middle and removed a section to shorten them, and cobbled together a cab and flatbed from plastic card and Milliput.&nbsp; The canvas tilt was from, IIRC, a White scout car kit.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I've always been very proud of this one! It's accuracy is suspect, as I was going by a couple of grainy old photos.&nbsp; But it looks okay for the tabletop, and at least it's unique.&nbsp; This will be towing a 76.2mm gun as part of my motorcycle battalion.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> I'm also happy with my NKVD staff car, which is a repainted toy car from about 1989 or so (from the Dick Tracy movie, maybe?)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jKqhVNUFHP4/TkR7EZE9cPI/AAAAAAAADFE/F7iA8xCHcDI/s1600/Sov_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jKqhVNUFHP4/TkR7EZE9cPI/AAAAAAAADFE/F7iA8xCHcDI/s400/Sov_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Aside from these painted kits, I also brought back with me some old kits I had lying around- the makings of a pretty good airforce, some more softskins, and even a box of metal figures including a cavalry regiment!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I look forward to these all seeing action in the none-too-distant future!</span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-60852159892530198942010-09-18T20:59:00.005+09:002010-09-18T23:59:07.493+09:00Eastern Front Railway Station<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I recently came across this resin kit through a post on <i><b>The Guild</b></i> wargamer's forum.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TJTTsciZ7BI/AAAAAAAACfI/wE-WyF2jmu8/s1600/TrainStation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TJTTsciZ7BI/AAAAAAAACfI/wE-WyF2jmu8/s400/TrainStation.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">A quick check with <b>Hobby Link Japan </b>showed that they had one in in stock, and I finally got around to ordering it today.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">This will be ideal addition to the village buildings I already have.&nbsp; It has a spartan, somewhat run-down look about it I like.&nbsp; It should be fun to paint.</span><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">All I need is a length of HO/OO track, and it's Tomasovitch the Tank Engine time.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-25022156235497374192010-09-18T11:49:00.003+09:002010-09-18T18:11:37.923+09:00Autumn is here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TJQoiKEc4rI/AAAAAAAACfA/sER_wuqazJ8/s1600/Aleran.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="367" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TJQoiKEc4rI/AAAAAAAACfA/sER_wuqazJ8/s400/Aleran.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">And I am really glad to be saying "<i>sayonara</i>" to the hottest summer I've known since coming to Japan nineteen years ago.&nbsp; Natsu-san, don't let the door hit you on your way out.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In contrast, autumn means cool, dry weather and the opportunity get some painting in. My priority in the coming week (and I'm taking my "summer" (sic) vacation then) is to get some Napoleonics ready for a game next weekend. But then I want to turn again to the Popovs and get some undercoating done. While waiting for the black undercoat to cure properly, I'll brush up on my airbrushing techniques so that I can then "go green" on the first batch.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In other developments:</span></div><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">As you can see from the photo at the top of the page, I received the <b>Aleran</b> decals I ordered from the <a href="http://www.michtoy.com/"><b>Michigan Toy Soldier Company</b></a>.&nbsp; This included some Order of the Red Banner badges for my <i>12th Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment</i>.&nbsp; MTSC didn't have stock of all I needed, so I had to wait three weeks for the backorder to be filled. This was no problem for me, and they were courteous and kept me informed of developments, so I was happy with the service.</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I also ordered another six <b>Zvezda</b> T-34/76's from Hannants, so I now have all the T-34/76's I'll ever need. I should be able to field, at some point, an entire tank brigade for 1944 as well as 1943.</span></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, after a long run with a strong yen, the Bank of Japan finally intervened and the yen is losing ground. This is good news from a business point of view even if it means the price of ordering overseas is no longer as cheap as it was. Still, job security trumps cheap models! The good news is that my recent orders went in before the yen fell in value, and what's more, I have now pretty well collected everything I need for the project I set myself, save a few tractors and artillery pieces.</span></li>&nbsp;</ul><ul>&nbsp;</ul>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-4755015988418984832010-09-15T23:35:00.002+09:002010-09-15T23:39:15.189+09:0070 years ago today...<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">While the Soviet Union slept, the Battle of Britain reached its climax.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp; </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Long ago, but made more real for me by family experiences.&nbsp; While my family was basically Royal Navy, my mother is from Sussex, where the threat of invasion was very real.&nbsp; A</span><span style="font-size: large;">s a young girl l</span><span style="font-size: large;">iving in the countryside, she was never evacuated.&nbsp; She still remembers vividly watching the air battles unfold over her head.&nbsp; </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><object height="364" width="445"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/TaeU3CSeQVk?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;color1=0x5d1719&amp;color2=0xcd311b&amp;border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/TaeU3CSeQVk?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;color1=0x5d1719&amp;color2=0xcd311b&amp;border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's to "The Few".&nbsp;&nbsp; We owe them more than we can ever imagine.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-81525924786584163672010-09-02T15:10:00.004+09:002010-09-02T15:18:36.773+09:00Quantity has a Quality all it's Own.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TH8-EysDZLI/AAAAAAAACdo/1Lfjv9XRcfg/s1600/GroundPower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TH8-EysDZLI/AAAAAAAACdo/1Lfjv9XRcfg/s400/GroundPower.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seen here in the form of six <b>Easy Model</b> pre-assembled </span><span style="font-size: large;">T-34/76</span><span style="font-size: large;"> tanks.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Evidently white camouflage is not so popular with gamers and collectors, as these were being discounted at 450 yen each- about $5.50 Can.- at a large hobby shop here in Japan.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not the very best models out there- the gun mantlet has been simplified somewhat- but a</span><span style="font-size: large;">t that price I couldn't go wrong.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">They will look just fine once I repaint them, replace some of the heavy plastic handrails on the side, and glue the tracks down to the top of the road wheels.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">A fine addition to the RKKA.&nbsp; I was also able to get a slew 'o M4 Shermans for my US collection, as you can see <a href="http://761stblackpanthers.blogspot.com/2010/09/i-love-smell-of-bargains-in-morning.html"><b>here</b></a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-13434686634571413422010-08-29T12:55:00.010+09:002010-08-29T15:43:10.962+09:00Rising above the Crowd<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are some WiP shots of my air support.&nbsp; The <b>Il-2m <i>Sturmovik</i></b> and the flight stand I've been making for it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/THnPD4gu2GI/AAAAAAAACcw/XmRqS_fyu_o/s1600/AirPower_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/THnPD4gu2GI/AAAAAAAACcw/XmRqS_fyu_o/s400/AirPower_2.jpg" width="247" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I went to the local craft store which has a wide range of useful goodies, and picked up a Plexiglas disk, some tubing and a length of clear Plexiglas rod.&nbsp;&nbsp; I glued a short length of tubing down to the disk, and the rod just slots into it with no glue required, so it should transport easily.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/THnPCHwkfdI/AAAAAAAACco/sQyCWArT6h0/s1600/AirPower_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/THnPCHwkfdI/AAAAAAAACco/sQyCWArT6h0/s400/AirPower_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I then glued a length of the same tubing into the bottom fuselage of the <i>Sturmovik</i>.&nbsp; Short enough to fit inside the model, but long enough so that when placed over the top of the clear plastic rod, the plane will sit firmly on top without fear of being accidentally toppled over.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I glued it in at an angle, so that when the model is placed on top of the stand, it will appear to be diving down, like a mighty socialist falcon, upon the helpless fascist rodents that are to be its prey.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">This obviously necessitated some major surgery on the kit, especially the rear seat area of the cockpit.&nbsp; I had to blank off part of the rear cockpit with plastic card, but it should look okay when done.&nbsp; Again, these are meant to be gaming models, not IPMS masterpieces.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">To weigh down the stand properly, I will first put some old, broken miniatures under the hammer- literally!&nbsp; The resulting flattened lead lumps will then be epoxied down to the base, which will then be amply covered with epoxy putty and textured.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Note that I gave up on the <b>Airfix</b> <i>Sturmovik.&nbsp; </i>This is an old Polish kit of the aircraft that I picked up years ago, and promptly ignored as it was too crude for words.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">However, on looking at pictures of the Il-2m, it was pretty obvious that Airfix had gotten the basic wing plan and fuselage contours -completely- wrong.&nbsp; Although in Airfix's defence, the kit was designed during the height of the Cold War, when any kind of accurate info was extremely scarce.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Polish kit did much better at capturing the look of the aircraft, so I decided that despite the heavy details, and being moulded from industrial-strength plastic, it would after all be the better bet.&nbsp; The hard plastic was certainly up to being hacked around when it came to adding the length of tubing.&nbsp; The surface details are crude- just raised lines for the most part- but are better than the raised rivets that come with the Airfix kit.&nbsp; And the location slots in the wing roots actually fit the wings!!&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Putting the kit together was a bit of an adventure, due to inadequate instructions and an almost total lack of locating holes.&nbsp; This wasn't <i><b>too</b></i> much of a drawback as those that <b>were</b> there didn't line up with the pins, or else were too small or large to receive them!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'll use some parts from the Airfix kit, such as bomb racks, rear machine gun and maybe the pilots.&nbsp; Likewise I'll use the excellent decal sheet from Airfix too- the one that came with the Polish kit being simply dreadful.&nbsp; </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/THnPFsFqsgI/AAAAAAAACc4/sQE7wXgr6Cc/s1600/AirPower_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/THnPFsFqsgI/AAAAAAAACc4/sQE7wXgr6Cc/s400/AirPower_3.jpg" width="308" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm much happier with how it is turning out so far, and it certainly looks much more like the Il-2m than did the Airfix kit, which looked as if it was converted from a Fairy <i>Fulmar</i>! A long way to go yet. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>*****</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Aside from air power, I've also been beavering away at the T-34/76's.&nbsp; I completed another <b>Zvezda</b> kit, and started a couple more UM models (these look good when done, but are a lot less fun to work on, as there are so many fiddly parts- many without locating holes).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the end I went ahead and added brass wire handles to the turrets.&nbsp; I was surprised to find that this was a lot easier to do than I thought it would be.&nbsp; Certainly the models look better for it.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/THnZuRAvekI/AAAAAAAACdA/_BScCjrwHJY/s1600/T-34+productionline_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/THnZuRAvekI/AAAAAAAACdA/_BScCjrwHJY/s400/T-34+productionline_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I've also started on the HQ stand for the 68th Tank Brigade.&nbsp; A UM T-34/76 with the brigade commander.&nbsp; He will be surveying the battlefield with his staff. &nbsp; I think it is going to look really neat when it's done!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Received some more kits this week- transport in the form of Lend-Lease trucks and jeeps!&nbsp; There are also some more surprises on the horizon, and I'll post on these when I get them.&nbsp; </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>*****</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">For a few weeks the Soviets will have to take back seat to Napoleonics, as I have a few stands of French that I have to get finished so that we can play our first game at the club at the end of September, although as I can use the Russian buildings as well I will continue to work on those.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">But it does means slower progress on the armour for a while, but maybe I need the break from modelling as I find my patience getting thinner these last few days.&nbsp; The summer heat is still oppressive, but hopefully now that September is imminent,&nbsp; the end of the heat wave may finally be in sight.&nbsp; Then I can get out the spray primer and airbrush!&nbsp; I'm anxious to get these guys under a coat of paint.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-72772353024771409182010-08-22T13:03:00.010+09:002010-08-22T15:23:29.002+09:00A Five-Year Plan in Two Months<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/THC9DN9SFgI/AAAAAAAACcg/4oPjSk-52a8/s1600/T-34+Production.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/THC9DN9SFgI/AAAAAAAACcg/4oPjSk-52a8/s320/T-34+Production.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday I managed to commence work on two more T-34's, so at this point I want to remind myself what it is I want to accomplish, and the time frame I am setting myself.&nbsp; Which is really the point of having set up the blog in the first place!&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">So having set myself the task of building up a mid-war force, here is what is on the table so far.&nbsp; One can almost hear the clank of cranes and conveyor belts, the <i>rat-tat-tat </i>of riveting guns, and the shouts of the foremen.&nbsp; Not to mention the stern warnings of the factory commissars, as they exhort the workers to strive to meet the production quotas set by Comrade Stalin.&nbsp; Or else...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/THCXweACJFI/AAAAAAAACcY/fqHkR1ltO-Y/s1600/Tankograd4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/THCXweACJFI/AAAAAAAACcY/fqHkR1ltO-Y/s640/Tankograd4.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Five T-34's in the front row, two completed, one almost done,&nbsp; and two just starting along the production line.&nbsp; Behind them are four KV-1s heavy tanks, one completed.&nbsp; In their shadow are six BT-light tanks.&nbsp; One has been finished, the others need some more work but are quick to do.&nbsp; Not a priority at this stage, though.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"> In the background is a BA-7 heavy armoured car, a Gaz truck, and the beginnings of the SU-152 Heavy Assault Gun Regiment.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some village buildings in the far distance.&nbsp; I really want to get started on these, but I need a large block of free time to work on them, as terrain making is messy stuff.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Look up- way up, and you can see the flying tank.&nbsp; The Il-2m <i>Sturmovik</i>, on a stand I made from a plastic disk and some Plexiglas rods and tubing.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I find I prefer to work on many different models at the same time.&nbsp; This allows me to stay sane by not having to repeating the same&nbsp; model assembly over and over again in one go.&nbsp; It also means that sub-assemblies have the time for cement and putty to dry out thoroughly before I start handling them, as in the meantime I can work on a different vehicle.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is the plan.&nbsp; Now, I know from bitter experience that plans have a way of being kicked about like deflated footballs by the evil Gnomes of Circumstance.&nbsp; But failure to plan is planning to fail, as the saying goes.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Plastic model production, in order of priority:</span></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Phase 1:</span></div><ul><li><span style="font-size: large;">6x T-34/76' Medium Tanks (one battalion)</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">4x KV-1s Heavy Tanks (one regiment)</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">4x BT-7 light tanks (two companies)</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">1x Il-2m <i>Sturmovik</i></span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">1x quad AA gun&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">1x 37mm AA gun</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">The village!</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div></blockquote><br /><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;Phase 2: </span></div><ul><li><span style="font-size: large;">4x SU-152 self-propelled assault guns (one regiment)</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">6x Lend-lease trucks <i>(on their way from Hannants)</i></span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">2x Lend-lease jeeps </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">(also on their way from Hannants)</span></i></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">1x 76.2mm a/t gun + truck</span><i><span style="font-size: large;"></span></i></li></ul></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote><blockquote>&nbsp;<i><span style="font-size: large;">Apart from the SU-152's, most of the above to make up the motorized rifle battalion of the tank brigade, along with a headquarters unit. I haven't decided yet which vehicles to use for the latter, though. </span></i></blockquote></blockquote></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">When done, this will mean that the following units will be ready to take the field:</span><br /><ul><li><b><span style="font-size: large;">68th Independent Tank Brigade </span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>(1942-43 configuration)</i></span></li><li><b><span style="font-size: large;">12th Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment</span></b></li><li><b><span style="font-size: large;">1539th SU Regiment </span></b></li></ul><span style="font-size: large;">If these can all be done by our&nbsp; next BKC game in middle/late October, I will be a very satisfied man.&nbsp; But I'll settle for getting at least Phase 1 done, with Phase 2</span><span style="font-size: large;"> well on it's way by that time.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">And of course, I still need to finish off an artillery battalion as well as assorted infantry odd 'n sods, but I should be able to sneak in an hour here and there for painting to break the tedium of being surrounded by liquid cement fumes and plastic shavings.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-90850423063237954762010-08-21T12:10:00.023+09:002010-08-22T11:46:12.175+09:00It's all in the details...<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Despite a busy work schedule- and I <b>do</b> mean busy, fourteen hour working days having been the norm recently- I've been able to unwind a bit by working here and there on the tanks.&nbsp; With the weekend upon me I can now spend an afternoon and evening chugging away at the Soviet armour.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I received the <b>Aber</b> turned aluminum gun barrels within days of getting Cove Model's email reporting them as being dispatched.&nbsp; Here is one of them which I just epoxied on to the KV-1s. They look good, especially the muzzle opening.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TG87vC1zfsI/AAAAAAAACbw/I6fjMNL_9_I/s1600/Tarted_up_KV-1s_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TG87vC1zfsI/AAAAAAAACbw/I6fjMNL_9_I/s400/Tarted_up_KV-1s_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">In a moment of madness, and inspired by someone's work on a hobby forum, I also thought it would be cool to add some cast turret numbers that were a feature of the KV-1s turret, as you can see here.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TG87x5jISoI/AAAAAAAACb4/wgxo0sxlFgA/s1600/Tarted_up_KV-1s_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TG87x5jISoI/AAAAAAAACb4/wgxo0sxlFgA/s320/Tarted_up_KV-1s_8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I used a new hobby knife to carefully carve off some of the&nbsp; raised part numbers from the UM OT-34 kit sprues, and carefully laid them in place on the turret, settling them in with some liquid cement.&nbsp; This was a <b>lot</b> easier to do than you may think.&nbsp; </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TG87snm2oKI/AAAAAAAACbo/oEG6lWcvhD4/s1600/Tarted_up_KV-1s_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TG87snm2oKI/AAAAAAAACbo/oEG6lWcvhD4/s400/Tarted_up_KV-1s_6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">They are somewhat over scale, but the effect is good.&nbsp; And it is the effect I'm going after here, rather than trying to create a 100% accurately scaled-down replica.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">After painting, I'll lightly dry brush the digits so that they stand out slightly from the turret surface.&nbsp; But no so much as to detract from the unit markings.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">And that's the first KV-1s all done, bar the painting.&nbsp; "Only" three more to do, not to mention the three SU-152's that are waiting in the wings.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">*****</span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was also able to put together another couple of the <b>Zvezda</b> T-34's.&nbsp; Again, I can't stress enough just how impressed I am with this kit.&nbsp; And now that I knew how to assemble those fantastic tracks, the models went together quickly and without any problems.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I decided to take the opportunity to make one of them a commander's vehicle.&nbsp; The Zvezda kit is of the early cast-turret version with the two "Micky Mouse ear" hatches, but I wanted the commander in a later version, with a cupola.&nbsp; Not only would it provide another interesting variation on the T-34 theme within my battalion, but it also has a visibility advantage in the BKC II rules.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fortunately, the UM OT-34 model- while a real pig to put together with all the myriad of small parts- comes with a lot of options, resulting in plenty of extras for the spare parts box.&nbsp; These include parts for either a flamethrower tank or normal version, rear-box or cylindrical style external fuel containers, and finally a choice of modelling either the earlier turret top, or the later one with cupola.&nbsp; So it was an easy matter to take a spare cupola and add it to the Zvezda kit.&nbsp; </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TG9DDEPp5GI/AAAAAAAACcI/vNnu-z-IK0c/s1600/T-34+productionline_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TG9DDEPp5GI/AAAAAAAACcI/vNnu-z-IK0c/s400/T-34+productionline_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">More challenging was modelling the cupola split hatch in open position, but some patient work with a sharp knife did the job easily.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I then added to cupola to a disc of plastic card to give it the required height to fit the Zvezda model, and drilled out holes for brass wire to give the hatches stronger support. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TG9DGFx5YVI/AAAAAAAACcQ/E4Z2b5-vXes/s1600/T-34+productionline_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TG9DGFx5YVI/AAAAAAAACcQ/E4Z2b5-vXes/s320/T-34+productionline_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I may well end up adding brass wire handles to the turret sides as well.&nbsp; All that was left was to plop an</span><span style="font-size: large;"> old Wargames Foundry 20mm tank commander into the hatch and there you have it. <i>Onwards to Victory, Comrades!&nbsp;</i></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>*****</b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The <b>Il-2m <i>Sturmovik</i></b> has not been forgotten, but there have been many problems encountered along the way, and progress is slow.&nbsp; The story on that will have to wait for a while.&nbsp; Suffice to say for now that armour kits are much easier to work with!&nbsp; But I have succeeded in making a good, strong stand for it, so that I can have it on the battlefield poised menacingly over the Fascist armour ready to do them some GBH.&nbsp; It does involve some major surgery on the model, though.&nbsp; WIP pictures&nbsp; soon, I hope.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>*****</b></span><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, never mind the Party, Comrade Stalin,&nbsp; Exporting the Revolution &amp; </span><span style="font-size: large;">International Communism,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">or the success of the latest Five Year Plan</span><span style="font-size: large;">.&nbsp; <b>This</b> was what the Soviet Soldier was <b>really</b> fighting for... <i>*sigh*</i></span></div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="364" width="445"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nabYYdQkS58?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;color1=0x5d1719&amp;color2=0xcd311b&amp;border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nabYYdQkS58?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&amp;color1=0x5d1719&amp;color2=0xcd311b&amp;border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-3412894898772006742010-08-13T18:33:00.016+09:002010-08-13T23:22:16.799+09:00"Tarting up" the KV-1s<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Shitty summer here; typhoons, heat, rain, heat and rain, and just plain meteorological filth as far as the weather is concerned.&nbsp; </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Airbrushing and spray priming are out of the question for the foreseeable few weeks here, but that hasn't stopped me from working on my Soviets.&nbsp; A bit here, a bit there, but most of all I have been muckin' around with my Pegasus Hobbies KV-1s kits, in particular trying to get one "test model" done.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I've mentioned earlier, I like these kits a lot, and the KV-1s has long been one of my favourite tanks.&nbsp; So I was determined to do a good job on the four of them that will make up the <i><b>12th Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment</b></i>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is the first one done, wanting only for the weather to cooperate <i>(hah!)</i> so that I can give it a black base coat prior to airbrushing. (click on any of the photos to enlarge).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TGT-4y9ALvI/AAAAAAAACaw/xE4gu3ZIjbQ/s1600/Tarted_up_KV-1s_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TGT-4y9ALvI/AAAAAAAACaw/xE4gu3ZIjbQ/s400/Tarted_up_KV-1s_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now this is not about to win any IPMS awards, but I think I've managed to capture the character of the beast a lot more than if I had just built it up straight out of the box.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Looking at pictures of the original vehicle, it was amazing just how "rough-hewn" the armour castings were.&nbsp; Here is an example, and you can see more pictures at&nbsp;<b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1237748627">this </a><a href="http://homepage1.nifty.com/gizmo-cafe/tank-photo/kv1s/kv1s.html">site</a></b>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TGT_gZsgJ-I/AAAAAAAACbQ/nbV4onwO51g/s1600/1s_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TGT_gZsgJ-I/AAAAAAAACbQ/nbV4onwO51g/s320/1s_5.jpg" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">So looking at the models, I decided to modify them.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">First I filled in the gaps in the turret assembly and sanded the whole thing down.&nbsp; Then, using two-part epoxy putty, I filled in the gaps between the turret and gun mantlet. I used a needle to texture the putty to get that "rough cut" look.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp; <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TGUHbfZW_EI/AAAAAAAACbY/60DZ27c7rqg/s1600/Tarted_up_KV-1s_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TGUHbfZW_EI/AAAAAAAACbY/60DZ27c7rqg/s400/Tarted_up_KV-1s_5.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Using strips of plastic card and rod, I added more substantial side discs and weld seams. For the seams, I soaked the plastic strips in liquid cement, and after about 15 minutes, I took a sharp craft knife and scored in umpteen grooves to get the welded look.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">In order to roughen the turret surface, I spread several coats of Gunze-Sangyo's&nbsp; <i>Mr. Surfacer 500</i> liberally over the turret sides and faces, using</span><span style="font-size: large;"> old retired paint brushes to texture and stipple the surfaces</span><span style="font-size: large;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">As I got more confident with using it, I was able to&nbsp; vary the consistency of the surfacer with liquid cement.&nbsp; </span><span style="font-size: large;">I ended up texturing&nbsp; all the surfaces of the vehicle that would have been cast- or drop-forged, such as armour plate, but not on the pressed-steel components such as track guards and fuel drums.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The surfacer is really versatile stuff, and is just great for getting that unpolished factory finish that was so typical of Soviet mid-war armour.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">All things considered, tarting up the turret didn't take all that long.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Purists will note that the weld seams are considerably over scale, but for wargaming models they characterize the look of the KV-1s nicely.&nbsp; Once the tank has been painted dark green and weathered appropriately, they won't stand out so much anyhow.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I also decided to add some more detailing to the tracks.&nbsp; Because of the moulding process, the tread surfaces on the kits are quite smooth and crude.&nbsp; After mulling over whether I <i><b>really</b></i> wanted to go through with this- after all, there are three more models to do and some SU-152's as well- I decided to bite the bullet and add chopped up strips of plastic to try and approximate the waffle pattern on the treads where they were visible.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Again, this would not pass muster at an IPMS competition, but I think I did a good job of hinting at the waffle effect.&nbsp; After the liquid cement dried, I gave the tracks a wash of good ol' Mr. Surfacer 500 again.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Once that was done, I epoxied some weights into the hull to give the model some heft, and then glued the lower and upper hulls together.&nbsp; They went together extremely well.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp; </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TGT_DTWGSRI/AAAAAAAACbI/zX-Xfl3sLq0/s1600/Tarted_up_KV-1s_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TGT_DTWGSRI/AAAAAAAACbI/zX-Xfl3sLq0/s400/Tarted_up_KV-1s_4.jpg" width="367" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The turret hand rails are just suggested using plastic rod.&nbsp; I was thinking of making them out of brass wire, but in the end decided that it wasn't worth the extra effort, especially as they would easily be prey to clumsy fingers anyway.</span><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TGT-9rZLzDI/AAAAAAAACbA/CiZ2ZlYjhjA/s1600/Tarted_up_KV-1s_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TGT-9rZLzDI/AAAAAAAACbA/CiZ2ZlYjhjA/s400/Tarted_up_KV-1s_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Here you can&nbsp; also see what was the biggest pain in the ass to do- the tow cables which were such a feature in photos of Soviet heavy tanks.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I could have ordered some of these as resin and copper wire after-market accessories, but that would have added much to the cost of the models, so I decided against it.&nbsp; Besides, as designed they wouldn't have worked with the way the hooks are modelled on the Pegasus Hobbies kits.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">So scratch building it was.&nbsp; I could find the wire easily enough at a local hardware store, and had thin brass wire to make to tow eyes.&nbsp; But it was fiddly, trial-and-error work involving&nbsp; masking tape, lengths of paper clip for hooks, super-glue, epoxy and a mess of cussin'.&nbsp; And it took many a failed attempt before I had a result which I was happy with and which would be sturdy enough to survive the gaming table.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">It didn't help that I got impatient and ended up breaking off one of the kit tow hooks, which was a bugger to replace.&nbsp; Now it is placed asymmetrically with the one on the other side, which I will just have to put down to a hasty and inexpert field repair- common enough going by a lot of photos I've seen of Soviet wartime armour.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp; </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TGT-7rR56OI/AAAAAAAACa4/tuTvmvbsfkQ/s1600/Tarted_up_KV-1s_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TGT-7rR56OI/AAAAAAAACa4/tuTvmvbsfkQ/s400/Tarted_up_KV-1s_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Note the gun barrel, which is from a UM OT-34 kit and is just there for the photo- it hasn't been cemented in place.&nbsp; I found the barrels on the Pegasus Hobbies kits somewhat anaemic and spindly looking, so I splurged out and ordered some of the <b>Aber</b> turned aluminum gun barrels from <a href="http://covemodels.co.uk/catalogue.php?cat=544&amp;subCat=1047"><b>Cove Models</b></a> to replace them.&nbsp; They are on their way as I type.&nbsp; Cove Models is an excellent company to deal with, by the way.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">So much for what were meant to be fast-build kits!&nbsp; But having spent so much time on this one vehicle, the others should prove a lot faster to build now that I know what- and what not- to do!&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> I'm happy with the results so far and look forward to&nbsp; getting the rest done, and to giving them a coat of paint and markings (I've just ordered some decal sets for Soviet armour from <b>Aleran</b>).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Providing the weather sees fit to cooperate, of course...</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-66212853647330012522010-07-25T19:18:00.003+09:002010-07-25T19:29:29.443+09:00Going "3D"- the IL-2 Sturmovik<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="364" width="445"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dzbqDDuG7CY&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1?rel=0&amp;color1=0x5d1719&amp;color2=0xcd311b&amp;border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dzbqDDuG7CY&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1?rel=0&amp;color1=0x5d1719&amp;color2=0xcd311b&amp;border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object></div><br /><div style="color: #b45f06; text-align: center;"><div><i>Fascists beware!!!</i></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">While waiting for various components on my heavy tanks to dry out, I decided it was time to look at some air support for the Soviets, started on the <i><b>Airfix</b></i> <b>Ilyushin IL-2 Sturmovik </b>kit<b>.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TEwNuWbLLPI/AAAAAAAACao/FntpXOVHsbI/s1600/IL-2_WIP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TEwNuWbLLPI/AAAAAAAACao/FntpXOVHsbI/s400/IL-2_WIP.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Clearly, Airfix thought the IL in the name stood for&nbsp; "Ill" fitting, and this kit was something of a pig to put together.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">All the parts&nbsp; are somewhat heavy, and needed some work with file and sandpaper to make them fit properly, particularly the undercarriage doors.&nbsp; I would have been better of replacing them completely, but instead I used the kit ones and realized that I needed lots of plastic scrap to fill in the gaps.&nbsp; This one will need a fair bit of time with putty and sandpaper.</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Still, to be fair the kit is an old and venerable one from Airfix and deserves to be given some allowances for its age.&nbsp; And to tell true I've been enjoying working on my first aircraft model for over twenty years.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The kit comes with a load of bombs, but I'm thinking of adding a pair of underwing 37mm A/T guns, as in the version in the video which I found on YouTube.&nbsp; They shouldn't present any particularly difficulty for scratch building.&nbsp; A little more challenging is how I'm going to make a stand and base that will be solid enough to support the kit over the table, without looking too ungainly and detracting from the tabletop.</span><br /><br /><br /></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-23249148432724386012010-07-19T17:31:00.007+09:002010-08-12T12:11:14.608+09:00Housing boom, and some suburban transportation.<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I've been quite productive recently with making model kits- I've been churning them out at a great pace.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The weather for the next few months here in Tokyo is going to be hot, humid, and generally unpleasant- which means that any spray painting is out of the question.&nbsp; So it's build, build, and build in the summer months and once the weather becomes cooler and drier, then I'll be able to prime, undercoat, and airbrush the lot in batches.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I've put together all the Pegasus Hobbies buildings which I ordered recently.&nbsp; After looking at pictures of Russian villages online, I've cut out some MDF bases and have been planning the layout.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The brown plastic buildings are the ones from Pegasus Hobbies, with a lone Britannia Miniatures resin house in their midst. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TEPOQE5JIkI/AAAAAAAACaY/mZnHVRLF4tc/s1600/Village_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TEPOQE5JIkI/AAAAAAAACaY/mZnHVRLF4tc/s400/Village_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The first step will be to plane down the edges of the bases.&nbsp; Once the buildings have been painted, then I will glue them down and texture the bases with acrylic putty and PVA-soaked offcuts of old cloth to make small potato patches and the like.&nbsp; I'll then add fences, the occasional duck pond, water troughs, wagons, wood piles and other such farmyard impedimenta so that the bases will look a lot less spartan than they do in the photos.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TEPON-ITA3I/AAAAAAAACaQ/f04pnfhpV1Q/s1600/Village_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TEPON-ITA3I/AAAAAAAACaQ/f04pnfhpV1Q/s400/Village_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yet to be done are the "commercial" buildings.&nbsp; A railway station and water tower (as at Ponyri), a grain silo, and an administration building for the local Party bigwigs.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Note the BA-6 and T-34/76 prowling the roads for Fascists.&nbsp; The tank is the Zvezda model.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is really a great model.&nbsp; The best T-34 kit I've built in this scale so far.&nbsp; It went together fairly quickly (after I corrected my initial mistake when constructing the road wheels and suspension- a classic case of <i>"when all else fails, read the instructions, nitwit!"</i>).&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TEQIsQr9MzI/AAAAAAAACag/-ouwHmqfbaQ/s1600/Zvezda+T-34_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TEQIsQr9MzI/AAAAAAAACag/-ouwHmqfbaQ/s400/Zvezda+T-34_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is the kit just as it comes, built straight out of the box.&nbsp; The only non-regulation things I did to it were to drill out the gun muzzle and the exhaust pipes in the rear.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The detail is very fine, and the track assembly system is quite ingenious. I was surprised just how easily almost all the parts fitted together.&nbsp; The 76.2mm gun itself is of very simple construction.&nbsp; None of those ill-fitting, multi-part gun housing/ mantlet pieces that seem to be the curse of many T-34/76 kits.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The only parts requiring filling were some mould sinkholes on the gun mantlet cheeks.&nbsp; You can see one side puttied over in the photo.&nbsp; Once it's cured, I'll sand them down and texture the turret with <i>Mr. Surfacer 500</i> for the rough-cast look.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Curiously, there are no external fuel tanks provided, but I've seen lots of photos of T-34's without them.&nbsp; And it does make for a faster build (two days.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was a little apprehensive as to how the delicate tow cables would fit, and whether they would break while removing them from the sprue, but the whole thing went together really smoothly.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is definitely my T-34 of choice for 20mm gaming.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-84269819805682566982010-07-17T13:46:00.009+09:002010-07-17T21:57:16.626+09:00Betushkas!<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I came home the other day to find my Pegasus Hobbies BT-7's had arrived.&nbsp; Really simple kits- about 12 parts per model! The track links are a little on the thick side, but nothing to detract from the model.&nbsp; The Pegasus kit captures the look of the <i>Betushka</i> perfectly.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here they are, assembled but not yet glued together.&nbsp; Some filing, filling, and sanding to be done but not much.&nbsp; Six vehicles, which would be a battalion's worth for service in the Far East, or I can use just four and have them do service as the light companies of the 1942/43 tank brigade.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TEEycZj15kI/AAAAAAAACZg/ehMaQ5P7CZc/s1600/Betushka-tachi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TEEycZj15kI/AAAAAAAACZg/ehMaQ5P7CZc/s400/Betushka-tachi.jpg" width="303" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">&nbsp;***** </span></b></div><span style="font-size: large;">In the background can be seen the KV-1s models I'm working on.&nbsp; I love these kits, and as there are only to be four of them I'm taking the time to "tart 'em up" a bit.&nbsp; Aside from adding plastic strip stock to suggest more track detail, I want to work more on the turret.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The turret castings of the real things were rough.&nbsp; REALLY rough, as you can see if you click on any of the images <a href="http://homepage1.nifty.com/gizmo-cafe/tank-photo/kv1s/kv1s.html"><b>here</b></a>.&nbsp; So I will apply liberal coats of Gunze-Sangyo's product <i>Mr. Surfacer 500</i> to give the cast parts a really porous-looking finish.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I may also replace the barrels with more substantial turned aluminum after-market parts, but that may have to wait a while.&nbsp; I'll also have to add some towing cables, which were such a noticeable part of the KV's equipment.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the KV's is of course to be the regimental command tank, so I also "opened" the hatch, and have yet to make the hatch cover itself from plastic card.&nbsp; Unlike other Soviet tanks, the hatch opened sideways, so I will need to chop up some <i>tankisti</i> miniatures so that I can make a commander who would be holding on the the hatch with his left hand while leaning slightly to the right.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>&nbsp;*****</b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Quick update.&nbsp; Received my order of Zvezda's brand new, snap-together T-34/76's from <a href="http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/ZVE5001"><b>Hannants</b></a> in the UK.&nbsp; I'm glad I ordered them when I did- they've already sold out! </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TEGlbOPhmpI/AAAAAAAACZ4/7sYpofW93sk/s1600/Zvezda+T-34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TEGlbOPhmpI/AAAAAAAACZ4/7sYpofW93sk/s400/Zvezda+T-34.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">First impressions are extremely good. For a snap-together kit, this one is <b>really</b> well-detailed!&nbsp; Not really a quick-build, but it should take a lot less time to put together than the UM kits!&nbsp;&nbsp; There are more parts than is the case with the Pegasus Hobbies models, but it has to be said </span><span style="font-size: large;">that overall this one is very finely engineered</span><span style="font-size: large;">.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I'm looking forward to getting them done- once I get the current crop of models finished!&nbsp; I may put one together just to see how it goes.&nbsp; </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-49747596975510659822010-07-04T11:57:00.054+09:002010-07-04T12:48:29.644+09:00Changes in Plan...<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">While looking for information on Guards heavy tank regiments, I found this <a href="http://www.flamesofwar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=108&amp;art_id=1109&amp;kb_cat_id=100"><b>.pdf file</b></a> from Battlefront on their<i> Flames of War</i> site.&nbsp; Unfortunately, it looks like the 36th Guards Heavies used the Churchill rather than KV-1's, so a change in the force I want to represent is in order.&nbsp; Bugger.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">So I diligently scoured all the Internetz, which led me to come across another article, <b><a href="http://warandgame.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/combat-path-of-the-12th-guards-heavy-tank-regiment/">this</a></b> one on the <b>12th Guards Heavy Tank Regiment</b>.&nbsp; It served with the 9th Guard Rifle Corps in the offensive launched after the Battle of Kursk.&nbsp; An interesting order of battle, as it had a tank brigade in support as well.&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>&nbsp;</b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>9th Guards Rifle Corps ( 61st Army)</b></span></div><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;">12th, 76th and 77th Guard Rifle Divisions<br />68th Independent Tank Brigade <br />12th Guards Heavy Tank Breakthrough Regiment<br />1539th SU Regiment (with twelve SU-152s)<br />16th and 17th Artillery Divisions<br />13th Mortar Brigade<br />310th and 311th Guards "Mortar" Regiments (twenty-four BM-13 “Katyusha” rocket launchers each).<br />310th Army Engineer Battalion</span></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lots of goodies there. Along with the12th Guards Heavies and the 68th Tank Brigade, I'll focus on recreating the <b>12th Guards Rifle Division</b>, which stayed with the 9th Rifle Corps for the whole war.&nbsp; According to R.G. Poirier and A.Z. Conner in their <b>very</b> useful book <i><b>The Red Army Order of Battle in the Great Patriotic War,</b> </i><i> &nbsp;</i>the 12th Guards Rifle Division consisted of the<b> 29th, 32nd, and 37th Guards Rifle Regiments</b> and the <b>31st Guards Artillery Regiment</b>.<i>&nbsp;</i>&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Originally raised as the 258th Rifle Division, it was used to form the 9th Guards Rifle Corps April 1942.&nbsp; It saw fighting around Bolkov, on the Dnieper River, Belorussia and Poland, as well as in Riga and Berlin.&nbsp; It served a number of times as a "breakthrough" division, for major offensives, and was awarded the <i><b>Order of the Red Banner </b></i>for its combat service.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">For the 68th Independent Tank Brigade, I'll be needing some light tanks.&nbsp; For a number of reasons, I settled on ordering some <b>Pegasus Hobbies BT-7 tanks</b>.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Bt7_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Bt7_6.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Now these were on the way out by late 1942 let alone 1943, when they really should be replaced by T-60's, T-70's, or even Lend-Lease Stuarts or Valentines.&nbsp; They aren't even in the BKC II stats for a mid-war Soviet army.&nbsp; But there were a number of practical considerations that made me decide to get them;</span><br /><ol><li><span style="font-size: large;">The Pegasus models are cheap- and easy to put together. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">While absolutely Kat food, the BT-7 looks cool, and has always been one of my favourites.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: large;">I can also use them in games set against the Japanese, where they were used right up to 1945.</span></li></ol><span style="font-size: large;">So I ordered three boxes' worth- six vehicles in all.&nbsp; I can assume that in the aftermath of the high losses taken at Kharkov and Rhzev, reinforcements have been sent from the Far East, and that due to supply and/ or administrative reasons the 68th Tank Brigade has not yet the chance to re-equip it's light companies with something more modern.&nbsp; At some time in the future I can get some Valentines or T-70's if I want to set the games later in the war.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Summer is here, the heat is increasing, and I'm off on a teaching intensive for a week.&nbsp; So updates may be slow in coming for July.&nbsp; When I get back from that business trip the pace at work picks up considerably, and I have to get working on some stuff for July's game as well.&nbsp; Blogging may well have to take a back seat for a while.</span></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-69029171749309116352010-06-27T20:26:00.012+09:002010-06-27T22:46:50.791+09:00Tankograd Tokyo<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The <b><i>18-y Tankovy Korpus</i></b> takes shape!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I received my order of Pegasus Hobbies tanks and buildings, and this weekend has seen me busy putting together T-34/76's, KV-1's, and SU-152's, as well as starting work on some terrain pieces for use in our BKC games.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TCcscQ8SMvI/AAAAAAAACZI/4tMO4jn5LLM/s1600/TNKOGRAD1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TCcscQ8SMvI/AAAAAAAACZI/4tMO4jn5LLM/s400/TNKOGRAD1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The Pegasus Hobbies models go together well, and once I got used to the rather ingenious design for putting together the torsion bars and road wheels, they proved really simple to put together.&nbsp; These models have a surprising amount of good detail for what are almost snap-together kits, and the fit of parts is generally excellent.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">There are very few sink holes and gaps that need filling, which, after working on some older Fujimi kits recently, is something of a relief! Most are on the underside of the models, where they cannot be seen anyway.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The hardest part was adding the armoured rear plate to the hull, which had to line up with the hull top if the whole thing was to fit together smoothly.&nbsp; It was a bit of a tricky fit, but nothing that liberal applications of liquid cement couldn't fix.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Assembling the tracks and running gear took some time for the first model.&nbsp; But once I figured out how they went together, the pace picked up quickly and once I got into mass-production mode I was able to do both tracks on two vehicles in about 30 minutes or even less.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The trick was to do two road wheels at a time, and&nbsp; then snap the tracks to the locating holes in the chassis so that the glue holding each half of the road wheels together would set with the torsion bars in the right position.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">In the meantime work on something else, then go back and add the next pair and again line them up.&nbsp; And so on, until the entire assembly finally just snaps into place and the locating pins on the torsion bars can then be glued from inside the chassis.&nbsp; A lot harder to describe than it was to do!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Once this current batch of armour is put together, I will start work on detailing them.&nbsp; While I really like the track assemblies, from the front and rear the tracks look a little plain due to moulding limitations.&nbsp; I'll be adding some plastic rod to suggest a more "waffle-like" tread pattern which was distinctive of KV tanks. I also want to work on texturing the turrets of the KV-1s tanks, and opening the hatch of one of them for the commander.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The lack of any decals provided with the kits is a bit of a drag, but as Pegasus Hobbies includes two tanks per box for a lot less than what other manufactures charge for one, I'm certainly not complaining.&nbsp; Anyway there are a lot of commercial decals available both online and in my spares box. </span><br /><div style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;,Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">The four KV-1s tanks will form the</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"> <i style="color: red;"><b>36th Guards Heavy Tank Regiment</b></i></span><span style="font-size: large;"> (I need to order some decals for Guards units).&nbsp; Those oh-so-sexy SU-152's will make up the </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: red;"><i>1543rd Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment</i></b>.</span></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Turning to the </span><span style="font-size: large;">UM OT-34/76&nbsp; kits I got a few weeks ago, </span><span style="font-size: large;">I plucked up the courage to try and put together the chassis and running gear of one of them.&nbsp; It went together <b><i>much</i></b> easier than I had ever dared to hope.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TCcshtcdokI/AAAAAAAACZY/n9scc6Diflo/s1600/TNKOGRAD3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TCcshtcdokI/AAAAAAAACZY/n9scc6Diflo/s400/TNKOGRAD3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The wheel assemblies looked alarmingly flimsy at first, but by the time I glued the tracks on- a relatively straight-forward task- the whole unit, once dried, has a lot of strength.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">As I mentioned in my last post, you can see I replaced the road wheels with those from an ESCI T-34 kit, with the front and rear wheels coming from a Fujimi model.&nbsp; There was no real appreciable difference in size, and they did the job nicely.&nbsp; Certainly a lot easier to work with than would have been the crappy vinyl tires that came with the original, and being all polystyrene I could use liquid cement which gave the whole track and wheel assembly greater strength.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, I put together the Pegasus buildings. seen here with a resin model from Brittania Miniatures.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TCcsemv0TpI/AAAAAAAACZQ/0_uWcTjplqw/s1600/TNKOGRAD2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TCcsemv0TpI/AAAAAAAACZQ/0_uWcTjplqw/s400/TNKOGRAD2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was doing some reading about what Russian villages would have looked like at the time of the GPW, and decided that having them based on&nbsp; strips of MDF as seen here would be both flexible and allow me to create the "look" of a typical Russian steppe village, such as Ponyri. Each base will a number of buildings with small gardens, fences, woodpiles etc. and the bases will be planed down at the edges and textured.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I have a few more buildings which I've ordered yet to come, and at some point in the future will add a church and train station.&nbsp; As befitting any settlement within the Soviet Utopia, there will of course be a need for an administration building as well as a small grain silo to store the collective harvest. The silo will be scratch built, based on of all things an old Airfix <i>Airfield Control Tower </i>kit that Giovanni gave me.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">This will be the month of plastic modelling.&nbsp; I want to spray the models with surface primer and then spray on a black undercoat before airbrushing, but with the horrible humidity that we have here now (it's rainy season in Japan), that will have to wait for a while first.&nbsp; Right now it is get the models built, let them dry thoroughly, and in the meantime paint up some infantry until the weather cooperates.</span><br /><br /></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-2215411836933986662010-06-19T15:45:00.005+09:002010-06-19T16:20:32.473+09:00Mixing and matching T-34's<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since my last post, the Pegasus Hobbies models have been shipped and I'm just waiting for them to get here any time now.&nbsp; In the meantime, I've been doing a dry fit of one of the UM OT-34's.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TBxgu3N-HnI/AAAAAAAACYY/VbAAFzX02r4/s1600/UM+OT-34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TBxgu3N-HnI/AAAAAAAACYY/VbAAFzX02r4/s320/UM+OT-34.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">On the whole I like 'em.&nbsp; They are more complex than the Fujimi T-34's that I have been used to building, but the trade off is of course better detailing- and no flexible plastic tracks.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are some things about the kits that I am not so crazy about.&nbsp; These are irritating sink holes that need to be filled, and the etched brass panel used for the rear engine deck, which I think is just an unnecessary complication. UM was perfectly capable of moulding a decent engine deck right into the plastic.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The biggest annoyance, though, is the useless vinyl towing cords and especially the tires meant to fit over the road wheels.&nbsp; They are not well detailed at all, and how they are meant to be attached to the styrene tracks beats me.&nbsp; Most importantly, I do not trust the vinyl not to melt the plastic of the wheels over time, and I suspect they will crumble with age anyway.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The solution is simple.&nbsp; Replace the wheels!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">First I looked into getting some replacement resin wheels from some specialist after-market parts makers, but at ten Euros for one tank's worth of wheels, that is more than the kit is worth.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fortunately, I found that I can replace the road wheels with those I have from my vast stock of Fujimi plastic kits and spares, and cannibalize a pair of old Esci T-34's I still have lying around from twenty years ago!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now the Fujimi T-34's are 1/76th scale models, while the Esci and UM models are I/72, so you think they wouldn't go together.&nbsp; Interestingly, however, the UM T-34 seems to be closer in size to the Fujimi kit than the Esci one, and when I placed the road wheels side-by-side the difference&nbsp; in size was really quite minimal, and a dry fit showed that the Fujimi wheels won't look out of place on the UM kit.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TBxuJwR9UaI/AAAAAAAACY4/5pIX21iPuu8/s1600/T-34+roadwheels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TBxuJwR9UaI/AAAAAAAACY4/5pIX21iPuu8/s400/T-34+roadwheels.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Esci pressed steel road wheel on the left, UM in the middle with the vinyl tire, and a Fujimi T-34/76 1941 road wheel on the right.&nbsp; The Esci and UM wheels are the same size, the Fujimi one seems to be just under 1mm smaller in diameter.&nbsp; Certainly not enough to notice when in place.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Another benefit is that being styrene plastic, I don't have to faff about with instant glues, and can just join the tracks to the wheels using liquid cement.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">In terms of scaling in general, it seems like either the Esci kit is oversized, or else the UM T-34 is undersized.&nbsp; Here is the UM upper hull on the left next to one of the old Esci models I have.&nbsp; The Esci kit is considerably wider and longer.&nbsp; </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TBxgxR5aV4I/AAAAAAAACYg/eJ03fkdqA54/s1600/UM%2BEsci-T34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TBxgxR5aV4I/AAAAAAAACYg/eJ03fkdqA54/s320/UM%2BEsci-T34.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Which one is more accurately scaled doesn't matter much to me.&nbsp; </span><span style="font-size: large;">Visual consistency is more important than scale accuracy for wargaming purposes. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The fact that the UM model is closer to the Fujimi T-34's is a plus, as then I can field both on the table without any glaringly obvious size differences.&nbsp; </span><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Which also means that the two T-34/76 model 1942's that I had earlier cobbled together by combining Fujimi hulls with some old Esci/Leva turrets won't look out of place either, so I can go ahead and finish them!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Here they are lined up.&nbsp; From top to bottom, the Esci T-34 hull; a Fujimi T-34/85; the UM OT-34 upper hull; in white, the Revell/Matchbox T-34 with Leva resin turret; and at bottom a Fujimi&nbsp; T-34/76 1941 hull fitted with the Esci 1942 hexagonal turret and a Matchbox gun w/mantlet.&nbsp; </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TBxg9KMglYI/AAAAAAAACYw/k1H-I9VN0m4/s1600/T-34tachi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TBxg9KMglYI/AAAAAAAACYw/k1H-I9VN0m4/s400/T-34tachi.jpg" width="316" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">The Esci model stands out as being much larger than all the others- it may go with the Armourfast T-34&nbsp; kits by Hat, but it dwarfs the 1/76 Fujimi models.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The UM 1/72 scale model is a much more comfortable match.&nbsp; A bit longer (3-4mm) and wider (2mm or so) than the Fujimi kits, but kept in separate units (my two conversions are meant to be the tank support company from a recce motorcycle battalion) there should be no problem, and by keeping the front track guards on the smaller models while removing them from their 1/72 brethren, the eye can be fooled into thinking that the difference isn't so pronounced.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I also managed to dig out my old Leva models conversion kit for a PT-34 mine-roller kit, so now I have an engineering vehicle as well!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I've also been looking at some AA for the Soviets so as to reduce Giovanni's <i>Stukas</i> to twisted metal wreckage before they can ride roughshod over my armour.&nbsp; As well as a Gaz truck with a quad Maxim mount, I have that new M16 half-track to provide support to the <i>Tankisti</i>,&nbsp; as well as some spare DhsK 12.5mm AAMG's to mount on some suitable trucks I may have lying around.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">For some heavier hate to throw at the fascist airmen, I also have some boxes of the Airfix 40mm Bofors AA gun that will have the shields removed, the trucks replaced with Studebakers, and the crew converted to Russians so as to represent the 37mm AA gun company.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-30766687790194413632010-06-12T15:36:00.012+09:002010-06-12T22:02:56.075+09:00Kurskifying the Kollection...<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The West Tokyo Wargamers played another <a href="http://www.blogger.com/A%20quick%20write%20up%20with%20pics%20of%20the%20last%20BKCII%20game%20which%20the%20West%20Tokyo%20Wargamers%20played%20in%20May.%20%20http://westtokyowargamers.blogspot.com/2010/06/photo-report-mays-games-day.html%20%20A%20German%20victory,%20but%20Ivan%20has%20reinforcements%20on%20the%20way.%5BB%29%5D"><b>great BKCII game </b></a>in May.&nbsp; And even if the Russkis got their butts handed to them by the Germans (who were commanded by an Italian, just to rub it in!),&nbsp; it was a lot of fun and we are all busy working on increasing our armies and working on terrain and buildings.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">And there are lot of reinforcements coming my way!&nbsp; The first batch arrived from Hannants in the UK yesterday.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TBMkZRltycI/AAAAAAAACXY/kpHoIGARDfE/s1600/new_members_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TBMkZRltycI/AAAAAAAACXY/kpHoIGARDfE/s400/new_members_1.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Latest acquisitions. Six OT-34 flamethrower tanks, some AA in the form of an M-16 Half-track, and some aerial artillery- the IL-2m <i>Sturmovik</i>.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The UM OT-34 kit also contains the parts for assembling a standard T-34/76, so unless I decide to go for a full battalion of OT-34's- which, while tempting, I'd never be able to field under the rules- some will probably end up just as gun tanks.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I like the shape of the Chelyabinsk UZTM (ChTZ) <b><a href="http://www.o5m6.de/t-34_76_uztm.html">turret</a></b> that this version is modelled with.</span><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">My Russian army has been designed for late war battles, but after some thought, I have decided that I want to work on building up forces for mid-war as well.&nbsp; Under BKCII, the T-34/85's are great tanks but expensive in terms of points, and- along with other later war tanks- can tend to dominate the battlefield.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I've a fondness for the mid-war T-34 tanks, especially the T-34/76 later versions with the hexagonal turrets.&nbsp; In fact, when I first started collecting 20mm WW2 Russians over 25 years ago, I wanted to use the models from Esci.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">But these were impossible to find in any quantity, so I settled on the Fujimi T-34/85, which could be found everywhere and anywhere.&nbsp; But I've always liked the version that Esci did back then, which with its hexagonal turret and 76mm gun was to me really iconic of the sweeping tank battles over the steppes in 1942-43.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since then there have been a number of newer kits on the market of the T-34/76.&nbsp; But the biggest issue for me has been scale.&nbsp; Most of my late war vehicles are 1/76, while the mid-war T-34's tend to be 1/72.&nbsp; I don't mind mixing scales too much, especially for trucks, half-tracks and the like.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">But the larger the vehicle the more pronounced the difference.&nbsp; This ruled out the Hat Armourfast T-34, as by all accounts the Hat model of the T-34's are not all that great, and are considerably over scale to begin with. &nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">But as I found a great deal on the <a href="http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/UNIM331"><b>UM OT-34 flamethrower tank</b></a>, I decided what the hell, and to take the plunge and just start a mid-war tank force as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">What tipped me over the edge was that Zvezda are releasing this <b><a href="http://www.dragonmodelsusa.com/dmlusa/prodd.asp?pid=ZVE5001">fast-build kit</a>,</b> which means that the project has become viable.&nbsp; Add to that some great and&nbsp; very useful releases from Pegasus Hobbies, and I'm off to the races, or at least to Ponyri Station.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Edit:&nbsp;</i> After doing a bit of comparison shopping on the Internet, I&nbsp; found some more bargains, so I just put in an order for some more vehicles, this time some heavy stuff.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">A battalion (four models) of KV-1s tanks to form a Guards&nbsp; Heavy Tank </span><span style="font-size: large;">Breakthrough </span><span style="font-size: large;">Regiment.&nbsp; At two vehicles to a box, Pegasus kits represent good value, and the detail is pretty good as well.&nbsp; In particular the characteristic track sag between the running wheels.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TBOCsGnnzwI/AAAAAAAACX4/OZUz3GnHD0Q/s1600/PH_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TBOCsGnnzwI/AAAAAAAACX4/OZUz3GnHD0Q/s320/PH_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">And what Soviet force for Kursk would be without it's <i>Zvierboys</i>, or "animal hunters"?&nbsp; Not many models of SU-152's out there, and this is a nice one.&nbsp; Two boxes flying my way.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TBOCuzjpAzI/AAAAAAAACYA/I6DkLxT9uXA/s1600/PH_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TBOCuzjpAzI/AAAAAAAACYA/I6DkLxT9uXA/s320/PH_4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Finally, I took the opportunity of ordering some Russian farm buildings as well, as we are all working on some terrain features for our games, and these look like being quite the thing.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TBOCppsn4tI/AAAAAAAACXw/INodijZb1C4/s1600/PH_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TBOCppsn4tI/AAAAAAAACXw/INodijZb1C4/s320/PH_2.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TBOCmzZM7HI/AAAAAAAACXo/ZddfCb5J1Tw/s1600/PH_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/TBOCmzZM7HI/AAAAAAAACXo/ZddfCb5J1Tw/s320/PH_1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Next on the shopping list are either some T-70's by Britannia Models in resin, or some Lend-Lease Valentine kits by Italeri.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">But that decision will have to wait for next month, when I get paid my annual summer bonus!</span><br /><br /></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-63985241615653878442010-04-29T18:55:00.001+09:002010-04-29T19:03:29.919+09:00Soviets Victorious!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The West Tokyo Wargamers had <b><a href="http://westtokyowargamers.blogspot.com/2010/04/april-25th-games-day-come-and-gone.html">another great game</a></b> of BKC last Sunday, and certainly winning one helps to keep up the motivation to churn out more Russians!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/S9lVZM9zquI/AAAAAAAACNw/D2OutlLS0X4/s1600/04_25_10_BKC_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/S9lVZM9zquI/AAAAAAAACNw/D2OutlLS0X4/s400/04_25_10_BKC_01.jpg" width="342" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">We really are getting to grips with the rules, and a lot of things which seemed to be odd are beginning to make sense as we get experience with the rules (as we thought would be the case!).&nbsp; In particular the suppression rules seem to be making much more sense.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/S9lVbW_zFzI/AAAAAAAACN4/_WEtmSl_dUM/s1600/04_25_10_BKC_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/S9lVbW_zFzI/AAAAAAAACN4/_WEtmSl_dUM/s400/04_25_10_BKC_02.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Last game saw the closest we had seen to an infantry-vs-infantry combat, but the time it took to slog across the table meant that the game pretty well came to an end before close combat could commence.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Next time we will start from further on the table, and/or have the armour come in later.&nbsp; That, and start buying trucks and halftracks! another option would be to increase movement and firing ranges, maybe by 1.5 those specified in the rules.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We also decided that we need more terrain- a lot more!&nbsp; Between us, that is going to be the big push for this month on the modelling front.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">On to another topic, and when I started basing my 20mm figures on the FoW bases, I textured the bases using Tamiya acrylic putty.&nbsp; For reasons I mentioned in my last post, this wasn't really satisfactory.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">But I've found that simply covering the stand with PVA and dipping it into a box of budgie sand is indeed the best way to go.&nbsp; When it dries, it sets rock-hard and I can paint and drybrush it the same way I did when using putty.&nbsp; And it blends in just about perfectly with the other stands I have painted as you can see here.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/S9lVde7lR3I/AAAAAAAACOA/s4Wkfm9L_wM/s1600/Basing_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/S9lVde7lR3I/AAAAAAAACOA/s4Wkfm9L_wM/s400/Basing_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The machine gunners dragging their Maxim gun forward have had the base textured using sand, and I've now painted it to match the others such as the AT rifle stand on the left.&nbsp; This was the last one I did using putty.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The 120mm mortar in the back, along with a prone MMG and flamethrower stand will be the next to get the treatment.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don't go for a lot of foliage on my WW2 stands.&nbsp; I want a colour palette that matches the minis.&nbsp; I find that simple is more effective, and as the army grows it really gives it a unique- and unified- look. </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-15635337472905571492010-04-25T11:22:00.003+09:002010-04-25T21:24:46.641+09:00April Output...<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">...was not that great, as it is the busiest month of the year for me.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">While I was able to work on some Napoleonics at the beginning of the month, report writing and preparing for a presentation ate up both time and mental focus.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Still, there is a BKC game today, and Daniel and I will be fielding our Soviets against a Japanese-German unholy alliance!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I did manage to get a Soviet MMG team together, and have made progress on the artillery battery.&nbsp; The 76.2mm guns are almost completely painted save the tires- you can see one of them here.&nbsp; I also finished one crew member.&nbsp; My first plastic minis since my Airfix days; years and years and years ago!&nbsp; It took some getting used to the different "feel" of the brush on the figure, but it painted up extremely well and I am very pleased with it.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/S9Om-fyjEOI/AAAAAAAACLw/R0PWQ7UhEic/s1600/April+output.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/S9Om-fyjEOI/AAAAAAAACLw/R0PWQ7UhEic/s400/April+output.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The MMG team (from <i>Fantassin</i>-now <i>Warmodelling</i>- plus one by <i>FAA</i>) has been based, but not yet painted.&nbsp; I used to apply <i>Tamiya</i> putty to the base and texture it with a toothpick, but it was laborious, messy, and the fumes ate up by already all-too-quickly diminishing number of brain cells, so I needed to find an alternative.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Once the sand has dried out thoroughly, I'll paint it the same colour as my other bases and see how it turns out.</span><br /><br /></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-27487134807741583612010-03-28T17:13:00.007+09:002010-03-28T22:25:23.971+09:00Italeri Zis-3 and "Servants"!<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">After our last BKC game, I've decided to beef up the Soviet infantry, and spent the day working on another battalion of seven stands, some support in the form of a 45mm ATG, another 82mm mortar, and have started work on my artillery battery; what is a Soviet army without it!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm going "multi-media" with this army, and the guns are the soft plastic ones by <b>Italeri</b>.&nbsp; I had a laugh at the name on the box, but I have to admit I'm really impressed with the contents.&nbsp; Plastics have evidently come a <b>long</b> way since my Airfix days.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp; </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/S69Xo9QQASI/AAAAAAAACJY/H7gCl3QlLwU/s1600/Zis-3+WIP_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/S69Xo9QQASI/AAAAAAAACJY/H7gCl3QlLwU/s400/Zis-3+WIP_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I have two boxes of these, and started on one of them.&nbsp; These were a bargain at two to a box, and are extremely nicely detailed.&nbsp; The soft plastic is of the harder variety, and I found that it takes drilling and even sanding quite well.&nbsp; I drilled out the muzzle openings and the tow rings, and cleaned up the minimal flash quite easily.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The only other thing I did was to add a plastic card "lid" to the ammo box of the "servant" dragging it up to the piece, which looked a lot better.&nbsp; This is really a well-sculpted miniature, and is my favourite in the box.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have a lot of metal miniatures from just about every manufacturer of 20mm WW2 Russians out there, so I mixed the crew for maximum variety.&nbsp; I added gun crew figures from <b>SHQ</b>, <b>Fantassin</b> (now <b>Warmodelling</b>), <b>Dixon</b>,&nbsp; the old <b>Drew's Militia</b> and even an ammo wagon from <b>Lyzard's Grin</b> with an FAA head attached to a German drivers body and given an epoxy putty rain cape.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">These figures range fronm 1/76 to 1/72nd scale.&nbsp; I do find that the SHQ are on the small size, and try not to have them stand <b>too</b> close to their much taller Italeri and Warmodelling comrades, but other than that I find the various miniatures manage to co-exist quite comfortably.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I rummaged through my spares box and came across a load of <b>Skytrex</b> ammo boxes, and put them in the back of the wagon.&nbsp; I also added a <b>Platoon 20</b> figure standing in the back helping to unload them.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The figures go nicely to making a mini diorama; the guns are nearing the end of their ammunition supply and desperately await more.&nbsp; Meanwhile the battery commander looks on while a junior officer implores the telephone operator to pressure HQ for more ammo!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Once I glue the guns together with Araldite, I'll give all the plastic components a vinegar bath, and then another soaking in detergent.&nbsp; I'll then give them all a coat of watered-down PVA prior to priming.&nbsp; I suspect these models will stand up to handling quite well, as there are no bendy-thin rifle barrels to worry about.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I need to get myself a 122mm howitzer which will give me three sections- a full battalion of artillery for the scale I'm using.&nbsp;&nbsp; I'll probably order two, as with the other Italeri box I have, I can then build two battalions, the full complement for a non-Guards rifle division.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2467924758747575900.post-66697806771618839352010-03-23T23:07:00.012+09:002010-03-25T15:24:24.946+09:00Hello Kitty joins Daniel and Friends- in Pomerania!<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We had another game of <i><b>Blitzkrieg Commander </b></i>this past Sunday, and it went a lot smoother than the first.&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since my last post, Giovanni received his copy of the new edition of the rules the week before our second game, and after looking through them I realized that they were different enough in detail so that it would be pointless commenting on what we learned from the first try as the new version would play out quite differently.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">For example, differences in troop quality are now accounted for, and there are separate factors when firing at armour and when firing at personnel.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the event, Sunday's game was a combination of continuing on with the old set's mechanisms, but trying out some of the more obvious&nbsp; changes we could glean from the second.&nbsp; Once we have&nbsp; all had a chance to digest the new rulebook we'll give BKC2 a go as written.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">This time it was Germans (Daniel and Sam) pitted against the Russians (myself and Dai).&nbsp; Until game day I had no idea what everyone had available in the way of terrain pieces, so just minutes before the game started I came up with a pretty much slap-dash,<i> ersatz</i> scenario that saw the Germans trying to escape from the Soviet armoured clutches over a bridge to safety.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">This they managed to to with flair, despite fielding what was largely a force of conscripts.&nbsp; It didn't help the cause of International Socialism that the Soviets couldn't pass more than one friggin' command roll in a row to save their worthless hides, which made mockery of their planned "hammer and anvil" tactics to squeeze the Germans between a holding force of infantry and a swift flanking movement of a battalion of T-34's.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I tell you, the commissar's nerves were pretty well worn out by the morning after the battle- as was his pistol!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The only real Soviet achievement was when the tardy T-34/85's managed to sneak behind a Hun armoured car and send it to Valhalla with a concentrated 85mm-shell enema.&nbsp; Big deal, as by this time the Germans were busy chopping up some Russkis who had managed to get themselves caught in&nbsp; the open in a potato field.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Otherwise the Germans seemed to be quite enjoying their scenic- and largely undisturbed -stroll to the river. &nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">To add insult to injury, the Russians had a considerable body of infantry safely ensconced behind a brick farmhouse, where they unhurriedly dined on sausage and vodka without feeling at all any need to get off their collective duffs and do something- <b>anything</b>!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lesson learned; Soviets, with their lower command values than the Germans, need to concentrate forces and to attack quickly and <i>en masse</i>.&nbsp;&nbsp; We shouldn't have split the command as we did.&nbsp; Had&nbsp; both command stands been available within command distance it would have increased our chances; if the HQ failed a vital order, then the C-in-C could have diced to see if he could get the job done.&nbsp; As it turned out, splitting our forces was just inviting the Dice Gods to punish our hubris with dreadful dice rolling.&nbsp; They duly obliged.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">As far as forces were concerned, we used the BKG army builder online program for two opposing forces at around 1500 points each.&nbsp; As far as models were concerned, in addition to Giovanni's collection&nbsp; I added a 120mm mortar, another MMG stand and some A/T rifles to the Soviets (the second version actually covers these battlefield wonders!).&nbsp; I was able to get my Tiger 1 at least base-coated to gaming standard as some extra muscle for Giovanni's collection of Germans.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">On the aesthetics front; although it did not prove the battle winner (it hardly had the opportunity!),&nbsp; the Tiger always looks impressive.&nbsp; One of the guys at the game was getting rid of some old paints, including <b>Citadel</b> ink washes.&nbsp; Now I've never used Citadel paints before, so when I tried some on my Tiger after the game I liked the effect, so that before I knew it I found myself finishing the Tiger the next day!&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's what Kitty looks like now.&nbsp; This model from <b>Fujimi</b> was a real joy to build.&nbsp; </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/S6jAO-7dMmI/AAAAAAAACIw/ieVLQmwiJJ8/s1600-h/Tigger+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/S6jAO-7dMmI/AAAAAAAACIw/ieVLQmwiJJ8/s400/Tigger+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/S6jAJbTHr2I/AAAAAAAACIo/wnJgh916DMo/s1600-h/Tigger+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t4qB-b2_onc/S6jAJbTHr2I/AAAAAAAACIo/wnJgh916DMo/s400/Tigger+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I undercoated it using a very good general-purpose acrylic flat black that is available here, and </span><span style="font-size: large;">than took a can of<b> Tamiya</b> <i>Dark Yellow</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>and sprayed it on in several thin coats.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">After applying a few thin washes of the inks, I painted in the details such as the engine grill recesses with flat black.&nbsp; Next, I wet-brushed the vehicle again with <b>Ceramcoat </b><i>Light Olive</i>, which is bang on being the exact same shade as the Tamiya dark yellow.&nbsp; This was followed by highlighting edges with <b>Ceramcoat</b>'s <i>Parchment</i>.&nbsp; The tracks were given a heavy coat of the Citadel brown ink, and then dry brushed in gunmetal. A bit of chipping and rust streaks here and their and it was done.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I'm quite proud of it, although for this one I decided to leave it in a plain dark yellow paint scheme.&nbsp; Once I get my airbrush out I'll try my hand at some camouflage for the second tank in the pair.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Roberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889130893225462338noreply@blogger.com0